1. INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE (IK) AND CONSERVATION ATTITUDES ON BIODIVERSITY
OUTSIDE PROTECTED AREA SYSTEM IN UGANDA:
IGARA COUNTY SCENARIO
Robinah F. Nakakeeto
Mbarara University of Science & Technology,
Uganda
Dominic Byarugaba (Dr.)

2. Introduction
I & TK in conservation is a new idea in Uganda, after a global shift from purely ecological scientists and security managers of natural resources in PAs
Uganda has over 500 forest reserves in the Albertine Rift, all of which were formerly connected to one another and to the great Ituri forest
70% of the forests and woodland area, are on private or customary land, only 30% permanent forest estate (PFE), in trust by Government (UNDP, 2005).
Igara county, Bushenyi District in s-western Uganda. Lies between latitudes and south and longitudes and east and altitude ranging between 910m – 2500m above sea level.
Forest Reserves include: Buungwe in Rwandadongo, Bugoma, Itwara, Kibale, Rwenzori mountain, Kalinzu, Maramagambo, Katsyoha-Kitomi, Echuya and Nyungwe in Rwanda
Lake region forests of Mabira, Mpanga, Sango Bay, Kalangala, mount Elgon, etc

3. Now the big questions at hand
What is biodiversity in the eyes of local communities?
What do our policies say about conservation and survival? The land act, wildlife act, forest act, decentralisation act and PEAP pillars?
What are the regional, global and technical issues, to address to cater for I&TK? Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS); patenting and related issues.
What trade-off ideas must we shelf in favour of biodiversity conservation and not loss?

4. Qtns. Cont’d
What are the political, social and economic variables to be dealt with first?
What are the monetary and non consumptive costs involved?
Who should be the change agents or the flag bearers for this good but tricky change?
What attitude change can we realise in the short, intermediate and long run?
What does our school curriculum teach?
What are our research priorities?
Who is there to listen and cherish I&TK?

5. Conservation attitudes of Igara people
Mainly through the music dance and drama by Kanihiiro women’s group as an informal means of transformation of IK.
Conservation attitude trend 57%-1992; 65%-1996; 72%-2000 and 73%-2005 (Docherty, 1992; Berinda, 1996; CARE, 2000 & UWA, 2005)
Agro-forestry has also been emphasised by all the 29 families visited to increase forest cover, and provide fuel wood for home use.
Reduced the burden on protected forest resources of Kalinzu, Maramagambo, Kasyoha-Kitomi

6. 90% of national energy is met from wood fuel
90% of national energy is met from wood fuel. The strategy of introduction of locally made energy saving stoves.
The strategy lies more on involvement of communities in conservation planning, management, decision making
- , with about 18 million tonnes of firewood and 500,000 tonnes of charcoal consumed annually.

7. Lucrative business close to forest reserves and community forest in form of pottery materials, medicinal plants, b.poles, f/wood, g.mining, a.land from private forests.

8. Conclusion
Society organisation was key to resource conservation with special emphasis on a participatory approach to conservation (Kingdoms, Chiefdoms, Clan heads etc). This was a hierarchy of knowledge transfer from generation to generation.
IK of women needs to be identified to develop appropriate institutional structures to promote the women ecological, nutritional, technological and institutional knowledge (Women as custodians of food, anti and post natal medicine & seed storage knowledge). Therefore I&TK threat starts from lack of society to use advice from people with experience in all aspects of life; conservation, food, income of barter system etc.
Use of opera labelled crafts and wood carvings promotes conservation through business, advertisement and media

9. National Parks of Uganda
There are 10 National Parks in Uganda, namely:
QENP
Murchison Falls National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park
Bwindi National Park
Mgahinga National Park
Kibale National Park
Semuliki National park
Mt. Elgon National Park
Mt. Rwenzori National Park
Lake Mburo National Park
Thank you for listening