Determinants and Socio-economic Impacts of Crop raiding around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Kayonza Sub County, Kanungu District

Abstract

This study assessed the determinants of crop raiding and its social and economic impacts on local people around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) in Kayonza sub-county. The objectives were to evaluate the determinants of crop raiding, and to assess the social and economic impacts of crop raiding on local communities around BINP. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, reviewing literature, and were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Scientists, version 23. A total of 65 respondents from two parishes and six villages were involved in the study. The percentage of respondents varied in the two parishes where 46% were from Bujengwe, while 54% from Mukono. More than half of the respondents (71%) were affected by crop raiding, while about 29% did not experience crop raiding. The respondents not affected by crop raiding explained that their gardens were far away from the park (79%), they planted barrier crops like tea which are not raided by the animals (16%) and some mentioned that members of conservation organization like HUGO chase animals when they get out of the park especially the gorillas (37%). All respondents affected by crop raiding reported that monkeys, baboons and bush pigs attack their crop gardens daily, while 74% of the respondents mentioned that elephants and gorillas raid their crops monthly. Majority of the respondents (49%) reported to lose within 0-500,000 Uganda Shillings (UGX), 16%) stated to lose <500,000-1,000,000 UGX, 9% mentioned to be losing more than one million shillings, but 27% did not respond to questions on income. Majority of the respondents 77% stated that they were willing to continue participating in conserving animals in the park, while 23% of the respondents were not willing to continue. Age of respondents, education status, income status and distance from the park significantly influenced whether a respondent experienced crop raiding, whereas sex, marital status and park barriers had no significant influence on crop raiding. This study recommends more research on park barriers and integrated management in conservation activities around the park.