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A CASE STUDY ON THE STATUS AND USE OF GARCINIA BUCHANANII IN UGANDA
FRANCIS OGWALNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
UNEP NAIROBI 12-15 2006
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INTRODUCTION
Uganda signed and ratified the CBD 12th June 1992 and 8th September 1993
respectively
Uganda also signed the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on 24th May 2000
and ratified it on 30th November 2001
The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995 has provision for the
protection and management of natural resources which includes biodiversity
Uganda has put in place a number of laws and policies on conservation and
management of natural resources/biodiversity – the National Environment Act,
the Wildlife Act, the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act,
The policies include National Environment Management Policy, Forestry
Policy, Wetlands Policy,
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Introduction continued
Uganda has a rich natural resource base including biodiversity –
Forests, wetlands, lakes, wildlife, rivers,
By 1991 population census, there were 24 million people. It is
estimated that the population is 26.8 million people (2005 estimates)
The population growth rate is 3.3% per annum
About 80% of the population depends on natural resources for its
livelihood, with an estimated 97% dependent on firewood for energy
The major challenges: Deforestation, loss of biodiversity, soil
degradation, drainage of wetlands, siltation of water bodies, poverty
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THE CASE STUDY
What agricultural resource is being exploited?
Garcinia buchananii. It is an indigenous fruit species which
occurs as single individual trees, belonging to the family-
Guttiferae
Location, use and general status of the plant
The species is not common but is widely distributed in
Uganda
Viable population of the species is found in Bukaleba
Central Forest Reserve
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Ecological characteristics of the Bukaleba CFR
Bukaleba CFR has an area of 97km2/ 9,663 ha with altitudinal ranges of
1158m -1334m ASL and lies between 330 18’ and 330 32’E and 00 11’
and 00 15’S.
Bukaleba CFR is located along the shores of Lake Victoria (Map 1).
Hence it’s a catchment protection forest for Lake Victoria
It was gazetted a Forest Reserve in 1968
The vegetation is broadly classified as medium altitude moist semi-
deciduous forest
Biodiversity inventory of 1994 recorded 96 species of plants. It has one
restricted-range species – Loranthus fischeri. 3 Other forest in which
this species have been recorded are Kagombe, Labwor Hills and
Morungole
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Ecological characteristics of the Bukaleba CFR
A total of 47 species of birds were recorded in the forest in 1994,
most of which are forest-dependent species (57%)
No restricted-range, endemic or threatened species were
recorded
A total of 99 species of butterflies were registered during the same
inventory- 5 Papilionidae, 15 Lycaethidae, 55 Nymphalidae and 5
Hesperiidae
50% of the butterflies were forest-dependent, with 4 restricted
range species recorded
The restricted range species – Dixeia charina, Pentila umangiana,
Charaxes ethalion, Charaxes, jahlusa
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Use of Garcinia buchananii
Medicinal value - Bark and roots used for treatment of
STDs –Gonorrhea
Debarking is carried out most of the year
Food value - the fruits are edible, collected by both
men, women and children
Collection of fruits – done December - February
Much of the use is for subsistence although traditional
medicine men charge a small fee for treatment of STDs
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Status of Garcinia buchananii
The population of the species is decreasing mainly due to unsustainable
harvesting methods and encroachment on the forest reserve where it has a
viable population.
Herbalists have indicated increasing distance to find the plant. In addition,
Bukaleba CFR is severely depleted - human settlements, conversion to
farmland-subsistence agriculture, illegal of animals, charcoal burning, cutting
of trees for firewood and poles for construction
Unsustainable harvesting-debarking and cutting of roots which is causing
death to the plant, hence the species is disappearing in some of the sites
where herbalist carry out debarking
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Management of the Resource
Management of Bukaleba CFR is under the National Forestry
(NFA) is established by the NFTPA 2003;
The NFTPA 2003 prohibits cutting, disturbing or damaging any
forest produce without a license from NFA;
The NFTPA 2003 provides for Collaborative Forest
Management with the local communities adjacent to the forest
reserve
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Management of the Resource
The NFTPA 2003 requires any use of a forest reserve to done in
accordance with a Management Plan (MP).
Draft MP for Bukaleba CFR for the period 2006-2016 prepared.
Its awaiting approval by the NFA Board of Directors and the
Minister responsible for forestry
Preparation of the MP for Bukaleba involved wide stakeholder
consultation including herbalist, farmers, hunters, local leaders,
donors, NGOs, Central and local governments
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Management Plan for Bukaleba CFR
The objectives of the MP are among others to:
Promote pole and firewood plantations
Promote watershed management and nature conservation – to protect
indigenous vegetation and biodiversity. All existing patches of forest to
be left intact during plantation establishment
Develop partnership arrangements with the private sector in
sustainable forest management
The MP has the following zones: Production Zone – commercial
plantation, Community Plantation Zone -planting trees for firewood,
Protection Zone -around the lake-biodiversity conservation area.
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Conservation measures proposed
Collection and preservation of germplasm materials in form of seeds, seedlings- Seeds have been planted at Botanical Gardens-seedlings to be given to herbalists for planting as well as to FORRI
Immediate establishment of seed or genebanks at regional and national level- Studies of the physiology of the seed being undertaken before seeds can be dried and stored in the gene bank
EIA to be carried out by NFA for plantation establishment. This mandatory under the NEA Cap 153, NFTPA 2003 and the EIA Regulations 1998
Control of grazing or total restriction of domestic animals as they browse on the seedlings and saplings
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Use of CBD tools
Ecosystems approach- Being used to promote management of fragile ecosystems like wetlands, hilly and mountainous areas, lake shores and river banks
Addis Ababa Principle 1 – Supportive policies, laws and institutions put in place by Government – NEMP, NEA, NEMA-Coordinating institution
Addis Ababa Principle 2 and 12 – ABS Regulations in Place, rights of local communities to benefit from use of biodiversity – MTA
Addis Ababa Principle 5 – EIA is carried out to promote sustainable use of biological diversity as well as the application of the precautionary approach
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Use of CBD tools
Addis Ababa Principle 8 – The EAC has developed a Protocol on Environment and natural resources, furthermore EIA for Shared Ecosystems is under preparation. Uganda has participated fully in the development of the Protocol and the EIA Guidelines
Addis Ababa Principle 9 - Inter-institution collaboration in place for the management and conservation of biological diversity – The Biodiversity Conservation Coordination Initiative
Addis Ababa Principle – 14: Public awareness and education on conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity on-
going- national to local level.
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Use of CBD tools
Principle 14 continued: Environment incorporated in primary school curriculum. At the tertiary institutions-programmes on environment and natural resources management is on-going–e.g. Zoology, Botany, Forestry, Environment
Challenges in implementing Addis Ababa Principle 10 – creating capacity for natural resource valuation,
The Akwe: Kon Voluntary Guidelines is addressed through the EIA process which include consultation with the local communities, cultural leaders and public hearing. The approval of EIAs by NEMA- conditions given which have to be adhered to during project implementation. Government has put in place EIA Guidelines, reference Manual for EIA and EIA Regulations.
Government is in the process of adopting the draft National Policy on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
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Policy on PGRFA
Uganda’s PGRFA is found in natural ecosystems, on farms and public lands, but are being eroded – due to loss of biodiversity from destructive use, diseases, introduction of high yielding varieties etc
Uganda PGRFA currently documented are: over 96 crop species, 209 species of wild edible plants and mushrooms, 219 trees and shrubs for food or feed, 524 species from 55 genera used as forages
Thus PGRFA are the basis and foundation for agricultural system and therefore the cornerstone Uganda’s economy and livelihoods of its population
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Overall policy objective
A review of the major policies and laws – PGRFA not adequate but do have general statements on sustainable use of biodiversity.
The overall objective of the policy is to ensure the conservation, sustainable use and management of Uganda’s plant genetic resources for food and agriculture while optimizing their full potential in contributing to government’s major development goals of food security, poverty eradication and improvement of peoples’ livelihoods.
The scope:- The policy applies to PGRFA whether naturally occurring or naturalized including intended for commercial purposes within Uganda or for export, whether in-situ or ex-situ conditions
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The need for the policy on PGRFA
The policy provides a framework for: Ensuring the availability of the resources for the present and future
generations. This is also in line with the over goal of NEMP of 1994 and MDG No. 7
Harnessing the full potential of PGRFA for national devt and improvement of livelihoods – Poverty reduction – MDG No.1. The NEMP- biodiversity sustainablly managed for national development
Mobilize and direct investments for conservation and management of PGRFA
Fill existing national legal and policy vacuum on PGRFA and to fulfill international obligations on the conservation, use and sustainable management of PGRFA
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Implementation of the policy
The Ministry of agriculture will be the primary implementer working with other key stakeholders since the policy by its scope cuts across Government sectors, institutions
Implementation will also require collaboration with the private sector, CSOs, Development Partners and International Agencies
Funding - Government will enhance the public and private sector investment into the management and sustainable use of PGRFA
Other funds – grants and funding mechanisms internationally established to support PGRFA activities
The policy will have a six year review cycle.