A CASE STUDY ON THE STATUS AND USE OF GARCINIA BUCHANANII IN UGANDA

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• A CASE STUDY ON THE STATUS AND USE OF GARCINIA
  BUCHANANII IN UGANDA
• FRANCIS OGWAL
• NATIONAL 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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Location of Uganda in Africa
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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 32E and 00 11 and 00
  15S.
• Bukaleba CFR is located along the shores of Lake
  Victoria (Map 1). Hence its 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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Illustration of unsustainable use
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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-goinge.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

• Ugandas 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
  Ugandas 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 Ugandas plant genetic resources for food and
  agriculture while optimizing their full potential
  in contributing to governments 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.