Commitment grows change

Mr Magaraganja

What would you do for your patch of land? For your forest, or the land that has sustained you and your family for many years? In Mr Magaraganja’s case, becoming a key informant with regards to West Bugwe forest, Uganda was a way to make amends and give back to the land that sustains him.

It hasn’t always been this way – as a young man, Magaraganja was one of those who illegally cut down trees to make charcoal, the only livelihood he knew. He is now in his 70’s and has depended on the forest for an income his entire life. Now he regrets his illegal actions and is part of A Rocha’s Collaborative Forest Management – regular patrols of forest ambassadors working with the National Forest Authority to protect the forest and informing the authorities of any irregularities in the forest.  The CFM groups currently have 136 members who oversee the 50 hectares restored by A Rocha Uganda. West Bugwe is an area of 31 km2 of natural forest, one of only three remaining in Uganda’s Eastern region. It is officially protected as a reserve, but continues to be degraded by encroachment and illegal activities such as charcoal burning, farming and firewood collection. It is home to many species, including pangolin, one of the most trafficked species.

There are other ways to live off the land – training in bee-keeping, agroforestry and ‘Farming God’s Way’ (farming using techniques like mulch and crop rotation) has made a difference to households. A Rocha Uganda is working with the communities of West Bugwe to eradicate invasive species, minimise wildfires, plant trees and move forward together to build appropriate partnerships with community-shared capital assets. Other creatures which call the forest home need to be contended with – for example, the villagers believe a leopard is to blame when a goat is killed. Is it a leopard or some other reason? The team would love to put in camera traps to build evidence and understanding of what species are present. Snakes certainly are – putting in place a snake clinic and educating about the different species and living well together is one of the ways A Rocha is supporting the community.

How did this change of heart come about? Commitment and conversations. Over time, seeing the commitment of the A Rocha team, explaining why they do what they do and seeing the impact that their actions had, won Magaraganja over. May this encourage you in whatever local actions you may be engaged in – commitment and connections make a difference.

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