Climate change adaptation and primates’ conservation in Budongo-Bugoma corridor privately owned forests

Abstract

This study examined the strategies used by conservation NGOs in Uganda's Budongo-Bugoma Corridor (BBC) to support primate conservation and climate change adaptation (CCA). The objectives included characterizing forest conservation and CCA practices used by NGOs, determining primate species diversity, and assessing private forest owners’ attitudes toward primate conservation and CAA. Using a mixed-methods research design, the study collected quantitative data through household surveys and qualitative data through key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). A total of 206 private forest owners’ households across four parishes—Munteme, Kidoma, Kibanjwa, and Birungu—were surveyed, while 20 KIIs and 8 FGDs provided further insights. Descriptive statistics were used to describe study findings while SPSS and Atlas ti analyzed quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Primate surveys were conducted through reconnaissance walks in private forests to record species sightings. Remote sensing and GIS tools analyzed habitat conditions and spatial distribution of primate species, while encounter rates (ERs) and the Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index measured primate abundance and diversity. The study found that tree planting was the most common CCA strategy (65%), and conservation NGO efforts positively influenced forest conditions, with 69.4% of respondents reporting improvements. Forest ownership increased over time, with 68.5% of respondents owning forests between 1–2 acres in 2022, compared to 52.4% in 2010. Additionally, 82% of respondents indicated NGO support for development initiatives, such as tree farming, water access, education, and healthcare. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed significant differences in primate conservation and CCA efforts based on respondents' occupations (p ≤ 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a negative relationship between gender (male) and community contributions to conservation (p ≤ 0.05) and a positive relationship between occupation and the perceived importance of conservation (p ≤ 0.05). Twenty-three reconnaissance surveys were conducted, covering 109.3 km, with an average distance of 4.752 km per survey: Birungu (36.6 km), Kibanjwa (26.6 km), Kidoma (34.4 km), and Munteme (11.5 km). The primate surveys recorded seven species, including Chimpanzee, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Olive Baboon, Black-and-white Colobus, Blue Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, and Vervet Monkey. The diversity of primate species underscores the importance of continued conservation efforts in the BBC. To enhance effectiveness, the study recommends that future conservation and CCA initiatives consider private forest owners’ tree planting practices and occupations. An integrated approach combining preferred conservation and CCA strategies is suggested to optimize conservation outcomes. Conservation actions, it concludes, should be evidence-based, informed by scientific research, and tailored to local conditions to ensure sustainable protection of primate species and their habitats in the corridor.