Fræðaþing landbúnaðarins - 03.02.2006, Blaðsíða 371

Agricultural encroachment, cultivation, grazing, poaching, deforestation and forest
degradation are often identified as major environmental threats to the ecosystem (Baatvik,
Kaboggoza et al. 2002). In both countries, extensive efforts have been made to protect the
valuable forest resources and biodiversity found on the mountain. Mt. Elgon therefore
provides an exceptionally suitable forum to explore the topic of transboundary (TB)
biodiversity management, its possibilities and constraints.
Stakeholders around Mt. Elgon
The various institutions, social groups and individuals that hold direct, significant and
specifíc stakes in a given area are referred to as stakeholders (Woodcock 2002).
The link between conservation and human needs is central in modern conservation
thinking, also called the “new conservation” thinking (Adams and Infield 2003). Greater
participation with local communities is now widely believed, and in the context of poor
countries considered vital, to provide better conservation, along with recognizing the fact
that local people have been residing and utilizing the forest resources for generations
(Agrawal 2000). In this context, this study seeks to analyse local peoples' interactions
with the forest ecosystem in both countries in a comparative perspective, trying to identify
their roles and interests and further, perceptions towards TB management issues.
Interdisciplinary approach
The ideas behind transboundary biodiversity management of Mt. Elgons biodiversity will
be explored from an interdisciplinary viewpoint, emphasizing historical, social/socio-
economic, managerial and environmental perspectives. These perspectives contribute
jointly to the understanding of the challenges to the potential transboundary management
on the area.
KEY OBJECTIVES
This interdisciplinary study has four key objectives.
1. Environmental history of the Mt Elgon area
To explore the environmental history of the Mt Elgon area.
2. Local peoples perceptions of conservation and management of the protected
areas and its implications for transboundary management.
To assess local stakeholder perceptions of the management policy and conservation of
the various protected areas.
3. Exploring transboundary biodiversity management challenges of protected areas
To identify the transboundary biodiversity management challenges for a!l involved
stakeholders.
4. Protected area management constraints
To assess the economic constraints of management ofbiodiversity rich, economically
poor, remote woodedprotected areas in Africa, using Mt Elgon National Park in
Uganda as a case-study.
methodology
The fírst phase of the fieldwork of the study took place in Uganda and Kenya from
September to December 2004. It was consisted of village questionnaire surveys using
semi-structured interviews of 125 households. Key stakeholders where also interviewed
from UWA (Uganda), KWS (Kenya), FD (Kenya) both in Mt. Elgon and Trans-nzoia
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