The utilization and conservation of non timber forest products in Budongo forest reserve.

Abstract

Non timber forest products plays an important role in contributing to livelihood of people around the forest especially in developing countries. The study was carried out basing on the following objectives: (i) To identify the non-timber forest products accessed, (ii) Evaluate the contribution of non-timber forest products to the livelihood of people, (iii) Identify control methods that are instituted to control over exploitation of the non-timber forest products in Budongo central forest reserve of Budongo Sub County, four villages around the forest were selected. Methods of data collection included use of structured questionnaires, were a total of 60 respondents interviewed from the four villages around Budongo forest. Descriptive statistics using tables, graphs and pie charts was used to analyze data. The study revealed that herbal medicine was the most NTFPs obtained from the forest, followed by forest food, firewood, forest water, charcoal, ropes, poles, fruits and others like rattan, crafts, bamboos, nutsand latex. The contribution of NTFPs to the livelihood of people were; source of income, livelihood diversification, source of herbal medicine, source of food, poles, attracting tourists and research Centre, others included climate modification, rainfall formation and breeding places for wild animals. Control methods instituted to control the over exploitation of NTFPs were; planting of more trees, patrolling, monitoring, afforestation and sensitizing people about the use of forests, avoiding illegalities like grazing in the forest, illegal hunting and charcoal making and involving the local people in decision making. However, forests have negative effects on the people around them like vermines, fierce wild animals breeding places for insects that spread different diseases and wrong dowers and limits land for expansion of settlement, agriculture and industrialization.