Ten years conservation on the ground
UCF began its work ten years ago in Ishasha, southern Queen Elizabeth Protected Area (QEPA), an area which reported the worst elephant crop raiding in Africa. Understandably, the communities supported poachers and killed elephants. The communities saw no value in the Park; to them its presence was an economic and social threat. Extensive research and monitoring led to UCF funding and coordinating, with UWA, community excavation of over 30km trenches and erection of 13 elephant fences. The impact of these mitigation measures has been substantial. No retaliatory killings of elephants have been reported, farmers now harvest their crops
and children attend secondary school rather than guard crops; two years ago none did. Community/ Park relations have improved and UWA rangers report a marked decline in poaching.

Recovering Protected Areas
UCF’s current challenge is assisting UWA in the recovery of the 400km² Dura sector north of Lake George, where wildlife has literally been wiped out by poaching.

Dura sits between Kibale Forest National Park to the north and QEPA, to the south, locations where an abundance of wildlife exists. A thin corridor connects the two through Dura but elephants are rarely seen. These ‘architects of the habitat’ need access to restore the Dura ecosystem, which is rapidly becoming impenetrable bush-land. UWA and UCF decided that investment in infrastructure was the critical first step in habitat recovery. The first permanent accommodation ranger base has been constructed this year and a second, bigger, ranger
base is now being planned for the area, thanks to funding secured by UCF. The presence of rangers and law enforcement activity is enough to deter many poachers.

A successful operational network
The Dura project is an extension of the successful Waterways project, which is combating illegal activity across Lakes Edward, George and Albert. Deployment by boat means the rangers (trained to Royal Yachting Association standards thanks to funding secured by UCF) can move along a shoreline quickly, silently and without detection. The strategic positioning of the UCF/ UWA network of boat stations at Mweya, Rwenshama, Kashaka and now Kamulikwezi is reducing smoking and smuggling of bushmeat, wildlife and ivory trafficking problems. Economies of fishing communities are gradually improving as unlicensed boats and undersized gauge
nets are confiscated.

The future
UCF needs your support to continue its work with UWA to improve the lives of communities and to protect wildlife.

To donate online or read more about our projects visit www.ugandacf.org
patrick.agaba@ugandacf.org 0772 480091
charlotte@ugandacf.org 0774 802319