Diversifying ecosystems services for diverse income in the Albertine Rift of Uganda
The Albertine Rift in western Uganda rises from an altitude of 700 metres to 5,000 metres at the peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains. It is a nature paradise of trees, plants, animals, birds and fish.
A wetland in western Uganda. (PHOTO: Nature Harness Initiatives)
Population increase, and the resultant demand for agricultural land and timber, necessitates ensuring that ecological resources are not exploited to depletion. Rewarding communities for environmental services is one way of doing this as it creates incentives for conservation.
However, the development of reward mechanisms requires a thorough understanding of the ecosystem services in question, potential buyers, intermediaries and suppliers, institutional arrangements and the policy environment.
In western Uganda, PRESA has partnered with two local organizations: Ecotrust Uganda and Nature Harness Initiatives (NAHI). Both are helping communities adopt sustainable land use practices and benefit from stronger links to markets for ecosystem services.
Activities
Ecotrust and trees for carbon
Ecotrust is facilitating negotiations for carbon payments, to encourage farmers to plant trees. Carbon funds are provided by companies wishing to offset their greenhouse gas emissions through afforestation and reforestation programmes.
Farmers participating in the Trees for Global Benefits programme are already earning income from the sale of carbon. Apart from providing additional income, trees protect soils from erosion while providing shade, medicine, fruit, wood fuel and construction materials.
PRESA is working with Ecotrust to assess carbon stocks accumulated in different agroforestry systems in order to have more farmers benefiting from carbon payments.
The work of Nature Harness Initiatives in the Albertine Rift
With assistance from PRESA, Nature Harness Initiatives sought information on the status of environmental services in the Rushebeya-Kanyabaha wetland landscape and Wambabya riverine forests system.
A number of intermediary institutions who are attuned to rewards for environmental services schemes have already existed in the area; hence, there exist immense opportunities to easily and quickly bring together seller communities through existing farmer institutions.
In the Wambabya riverine forest system, Nature Harness has began working with private sector firms to aid in developing plans for managing and offsetting their biodiversity footprints.
Next steps
Researchers collaborating with PRESA will assess the socio-economic impacts of community carbon projects. The research work will support the design of suitable payment mechanisms that take into account the interests, needs and cultural values of local inhabitants.
Both Ecotrust and Nature Harness are driving policy engagement activities with public agencies while leading research aimed at supporting the expansion and improvement of existing mechanisms.
PRESA is exploring sustainable ‘basketry’ as an income generating activity and how this can evolve as a viable industry considering the triple-bottom line principles of sustainability. Eco-labeling could be potential trajectory once farmers gain confidence and create a brand that can be eco-labeled.
Coffee certification is one way of increasing the premium value of sustainable coffee production. By working with Ecotrust Uganda and Nature Harness, PRESA plans to expand the geographical scope of the Trees for Global Benefits project to Central Uganda, specifically Mabira Forest and focus more on the ecosystem services provided by coffee.
Partners
Stakeholders
- Smallholder farmers
- Farmers engaged in carbon forestry activities
- Women’s basket making groups
- International carbon buyers
- International buyers of biodiversity offsets