Collaborative management of wildlife for promotion of tourism in Africa : a case of Semuliki national park, western Uganda

Abstract

Collaborative management of natural resources has overtime received overwhelming support in developing countries after decades of colonial preservative approach. It is considered as the most appropriate management practice for all-natural resources including wildlife resources. The aim of this study was to identify the management strategies used and their performance in promoting sustainability of wildlife and tourism around Semuliki National Park, South Western Uganda. Across-sectional research design was used in the study. Methods of data collection included interviews, focus group discussions, observation, questionnaires and document review. A sample of 199 households living around the protected area were randomly and selected. The key informants were purposively selected. The findings indicated that strategies used in the area included : resource harvesting, problem animal management and land use planning, revenue sharing and sensitization. The local communities perceived resource harvesting, land use planning and problem animal management as the most effective strategies in managing the protected area. The community appreciated that some success had been recorded and these include among others ; reducing encroachment to the protected area and illegal resources harvesting, and improvement in park–community relationship. However, the problem animal management strategies had not performed well and therefore affecting sustainable wildlife management and tourism development in the area. This calls for reassessment of the strategy with the aim of strengthening community involvement in the management of the protected area. It was concluded that there a mix in the perception of the community around the protected area as far as collaborative management was concerned. Many believe that their level of participation is mainly passive though there is small level active involvement and participation. It was recommended that the participation of local communities need to be enhanced and the successful strategies should be strengthened and cascaded to other protected areas in the country and in Africa as a whole.