community development

Local community children, Semliki ©WILDPLACESTRUST

The Trust has identified five communities on the reserve boundary in which to focus its community programming efforts:
•Karugutu
•Rwebisengo
•Ruwangara
•Kijura
•Ntoroko 

Aims of Community Projects

•To provide communities with a direct financial benefit from improved protection of the park and its resources
•To create a new generation of conservation-minded  citizens
•To raise the standard of living in local communities through socio-economic development projects

Objectives

There are 3 main objectives for these areas: 

1. To improve socio-economic development in the form of eco-friendly, small-income generating projects so community members can receive a direct financial benefit from increased conservation and protection of reserve resources
2. To spread environmental awareness in these areas in order to create a new generation of conservation-minded citizens
3. To improve the health and quality of living within these communities 

Priorities

Each of the targeted communities will be able to prioritize the needs of their members and assist with the planning and development of the activities that will be conducted by the Trust.  All projects will be tailored to individual communities and developed in collaboration with both formal and informal community leaders in those areas in order to assure future success and sustainability once the Trust’s presence is reduced.

Programs

Ideas generated by community members include the following areas:

Income Generation  

•Fish farming

•Bee keeping      

•Tree planting                                       
                                                                                       
•Craft making

•Water hyacinth removal                                         

Education

•Job skills training    

•Practical use of recycled materials    

In addition, there will be programs in conservation education to help spread awareness of the importance of the reserve’s ecosystem and the benefits of ecotourism.  This education will be in the form of teaching sustainable use of reserve resources, field trips into the reserve by local school groups, the expansion of wildlife clubs in the government school system and the establishment of a regional nature center where community members can visit to learn more about the wildlife and biodiversity in the area. 

Development

•Maternal Health

•Water catchment systems