UNDP is implementing several GEF funded projects
in Uganda focusing on different themes. The "Conservation of the
Albertine Rift" is protecting an important global biodiversity
hotspot in south western Uganda, while the COBWEB project is
extending coverage of the national protected area system to include
wetlands in the Eastern part of the country. This new project
brings in a totally new but equally important dimension focusing on
conserving the threatened and globally important Kidepo critical
landscape in North Eastern Uganda, an area that has been hitherto
ravaged by war. UNDP is already working in this same area on yet
another GEF funded initiative addressing land degradation in the
'cattle corridor', a land degradation hotspot, which stretches from
the South-west of Uganda to Karamoja in the North-Eastern Uganda.
This project will also build on work started by the GEF Small
Grants Programme focused on promoting the protection of on-farm
Shea tree species and improving efficiency and quality of
production of Shea oil through use of modern technologies; and
enhancing the conservation of the Shea tree species by improving
the capacity of community members to gather, process and market
Shea nuts in Otuke County (one of this project's target
districts)
The project will also partner with the USAID-WILD
programme implemented by WCS in the project target area). the
WCS/USAID/WILD programme has already undertaken a number of
activities aimed at strengthening the conservation and sustainable
management of key biodiversity landscapes in northern Uganda. In
the Kidepo landscape in particular, WILD has: (a) completed
biological surveys, research (including monitoring of elephant
movement patterns in the Kidepo critical landscape) and land cover
/ land use mapping, which will provide some of the baseline
information needed for this project, both in protected area
planning and management, and in integrating protected area
management into the wider landscape; (b)supported UWA in park
management planning and business planning in Kidepo NP, as well as
providing support for implementation of priority park management
activities focussed on strengthening law enforcement, fire
management and transboundary collaboration; (c) carried out a
tourism study and developed promotional materials for Northern
Uganda, highlighting Kidepo among other areas; (d) supported tree
planting and conservation education programmes in the communities
neighbouring Kidepo; (e)trained local government environment staff
(in collaboration with NEMA) in environmental action planning, and
supported environmental action planning in pilot sub-counties in
ecologically sensitive areas neighbouring Kidepo. USAID WILD will
therefore be a project partner, and they will continue to provide
business and management planning support to UWA; Support
implementation of management and business plans developed; work
with UWA to provide training linked to institution wide capacity
building, based on the capacity needs assessment currently being
done for Kidepo Valley National Park; continue to support UWA in
monitoring wildlife populations; further development of tourism in
the Kidepo landscape (e.g. tourism planning, product development);
further development of transboundary conservation with South Sudan
and work with District officials and UWA in key buffer zones on
environmental action planning, building on pilot sub-counties
covered by WILD, and supporting implementation of these
plans.
Last but not least, USAID through WILD facilitated
the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between The
Governments of Uganda and Southern Sudan for the creation of
"Conservation Landscapes for Peace". The Otzi-Nimule and Kidepo
landscapes are two of the five that have been earmarked in the
MOU.1 Through partnering with WILD, the project will support the
on-going transboundary cooperation. The project will also work
closely with a UNDP-GEF funded project in Southern
Sudan aimed
at launching a Protected Area Network and
strengthening management effectiveness in Post-conflict Southern
Sudan.
The Rhino fund is a partnership with UWA
established in 1997 to promote the reintroduction of rhinoceros to
their original habitat in protected areas (including Kidepo Valley
National Park); promote breeding programs to ensure the long term
viability of reintroduced rhinoceros populations; to educate
district governments and local communities about rhinos and other
endangered species; and to generate funds in support of
translocation, protection, and management of the reintroduced
rhinoceros populations. For this project, the Rhino Fund will
provide technical support and co-finance improved security,
enforcement and training of the rangers.
