Biodiversity conservation policies and practices – Uganda

Geographical profile

The biodiversity conservation is led by CTPH, located in Uganda. The organisation’s vision is to be an internationally renowned leader in gorilla and wildlife conservation by improving the health of wildlife and ecosystems and humans and their livestock in and around Africa’s protected area. This is achieved through a multidisciplinary approach that focuses on preventing and controlling disease transmission between closely genetically related species such as people and gorillas, and cattle and buffalo, and promoting a better quality of life that reduces local communities’ dependence on fragile habitats to meet their basic needs. CTPH conducts research activities study the transmission of virus from interspecies interactions. The expertise in molecular testing and characterisation of virus (such as corona viruses) aids in the development of preventive health strategies. The services offered by CTPH are engaged by the organisation’s social enterprise, Gorilla Conservation Coffee, which supports smallholder farmers on the outskirts of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP). The support offered by CTPH aids in improved cultivation quality of coffee, bought at an above market price, and, thereby, improving their livelihoods and reducing their dependence on natural resources to meet basic needs of food and fuelwood.

Challenges

The current methodologies adopted by CTPH lacks technological intervention to accurately map and model the landscape of coffee farmers, using GIS like solutions. Additionally, CTPH lacks support in mapping the navigational route for planning and monitoring of animal behaviours. A lack of capacity to process environmental data and develop predictive analytics on climate data services also affects the coffee cultivation.

 

Expected benefits

The overarching vision of CTPH is structured into three main programs: (i) Gorilla Conservation, (ii) One Health and (iii) Alternative Livelihoods. Participation in NESTLER offers CTPH an opportunity to closely engage with the relevant stakeholders representing research scientists, healthcare professionals, policy makers, and governmental representatives. Collectively, the NESTLER project will develop a sustainability roadmap towards the One Health programme initiative, building on the expertise on identifying zoonotic disease outbreaks.