UWA says invasive plants causing wildlife-human conflicts
KARENGA– The Uganda Wildlife Authority [UWA] has said invasive plant species are partly responsible for the ongoing wildlife-human conflicts in some parts of the country that host forest and game reserves.
Invasive plants are unwelcome plants, insects and other organisms that disrupt the ecology of natural ecosystems, displacing native plant and animal species, and degrading the diverse biological resources.
According to Kidepo Valley National Park chief warden, Samuel Amanya, UWA is overwhelmed by the growing cases of wildlife-human conflicts as both wild animals and humans struggle for survival.
He said 3,445 cases of wildlife-human conflicts have been registered as wild animals like elephants escape from their habitats to invade communities neighbouring game parks.
The UWA official noted: “We have also noticed that the invasive plant species are forcing animals out of the parks. Such plants destroy what the animals initially feed on and they will always move out.”
He further disclosed that 20 percent of Kidepo Valley National Park is invaded by invasive plant species which affect the wildlife habitat and feeds.
His Counterpart Dr. Margret Driciru of Murchison Falls National Park acknowledged that invasive plant species have negatively impacted the conservation of wildlife in the country.
Some of the invasive plants are Dichrostachys cinerea, Lantana camara, Parthenium hysterophorus, Opuntia vulgaris, Imperata cylindrica, Maeruade cumbens, Caesalepina decaputala, Acacia hockii, Tecoma Stan, Senna siamea, and Thevetia peruviana.
Meanwhile, Amanya explained that while the victims of wildlife-human conflicts are yet to be compensated, the affected communities should embrace local solutions such as block farming.
“We have seen block farming as a local solution because animals like elephants can’t penetrate those farms especially where tea is grown on a large scale and this can work,” Amanya further explained.
However, he urged communities from encroaching on forest and game reserves, something he says has immensely contributed to wildlife-human conflicts.
The Karenga Lower LCIII chairman, Peter Abach said over 400 wildlife community scouts have been trained to protect the farms from the stray animals, adding that they are encouraging residents to embrace block farming.
“Right now, we are mobilising the community members and talking to the land owners to undertake this block farming and we are hoping to start off in July this year,” he said.
The Nwoya district LCV chairman, Emmanuel Orach said block farming initiative would support the existing interventions of establishing electric fences and digging trenches to protect families and their farms against wild animals.
https://thecooperator.news/uwa-to-recruit-800-rangers-for-game-parks/
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