Assessing the Performance of Community Forest Management

Abstract

Collaborative Forest Management was introduced to help in co-managing of the forest. The study focused on understanding the performance of CFM groups of NACOBA and COFSDA co-managing compartments 229 and 176 respectively with the NFA. The study specifically focused on; the level of involvement of members, their individual motivation and the actions that have been taken to improve the performance of the groups. The study was carried out in Buvunya and Nagojje sub-counties of Buikwe and Mukono districts respectively. Primary data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires administered to seventy-four members of the CFM groups. Key informant interviews were also conducted with the Chairperson of NACOBA and the General Secretary of COFSDA. The data collected was cleaned, coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. The study indicated that majority of the members in NACOBA were so much involved in enrichment planting due to the large gaps created as a result of deforestation whereas those of COFSDA were so much involved in patrolling due to high rates of illegal activity in that area. Joining of the CFM groups was mainly due to love for nature and influence from the spouses mainly men influencing their wives. The members were satisfied with the forest user rights to the forest resources on the specified days. Over the period the groups existed, they faced challenges of hatred from locals (non-CFM members) and lack of office premises. However, these challenges were being counteracted with an increased level of sensitization for the non-members and purchase of land for construction of office blocks.