Dynamics of access to forest and tree resources for rural livelihoods in Rakai and Luweero districts

A Dissertation submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Master of Science in Agroforestry Degree of Makerere University.

The dynamics of access to forest and tree resources was assessed in Rakai and Luweero districts of central Uganda between November 2007 and July 2008. The study aimed at addressing a gap in knowledge of forest and tree resources access by poor and female-headed households in an attempt to formulate sustainable poverty alleviation strategies for improved livelihoods and sustainable resource management. Village meetings, focus group discussions and key informant interviews guided by check lists were used to collect data on the communities. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to carry out a household survey. Data at community level were qualitatively analysed through content analysis. A logistic regression analysis was carried out to establish the influence of socio-economic and demographic characteristics of households on livelihoods as well as the relationship between access to forest and tree resources and livelihoods. A chi square test of independence was carried out to determine the association between awareness about the rules to access forest and tree resources, sanctions for breaking the rules and livelihoods. Results of the study indicated that women and poor men have access rights to resources from the forest and woodlands mainly for domestic use. Men had access to tree resources on-farm but allowed women domestic use of the resources. Resources from wild spaces were accessed according to ones relation with the owner. Households mainly depended on firewood, herbal medicine, water and palm leaves from the forest and woodland; fruits, firewood, shade and bark cloth from the farm; firewood, grass, herbal medicine and water from the wild/marginal spaces outside the forest and woodlands. Favourable laws, availability of resources on farm, proximity to resources and knowledge about the resources were the main opportunities to access forest and tree resources. Unfavourable laws, attacks by wild animals, long distance to forest, risks of getting injured and crop raiding were the main constraints to access forest and tree resources. The community in which the household lived, period for which a household lived in the community, marital status of household head, number of years spent in school by household head and ethnicity of the household positively influenced household livelihoods as a result of access to forest and tree resources (P<0.05). Herbal medicine and water collected from the forest and woodlands and firewood from the farm also positively influenced household livelihoods (P<0.05). The age of household head and timber obtained from the wild/marginal spaces negatively influenced household livelihoods (P<0.05). Generally, commercial use of forest and tree resources like palm leaves after value addition was allowed. Dependence on resources such as firewood, herbal medicine and water that are all essential for household well being was high. Advocacy of land rights for women was recommended to improve their access to forest and tree resources. Sustainable use of resources for commercial purposes be encouraged, conservation and tree growing promoted and alternative income generating activities supported.