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Component 2 : Restore harmony between wildlife and humans

It is then a question of reducing the negative impacts of wildlife on riparian communities in the northern zone of KNP and vice versa, on the one hand, food insecurity and poverty caused by the loss of crops resulting from incursions, and, on the other hand, poaching and environmental pollution probably responsible for chimpanzee malformation/sterility. 

1) Implementation of collective actions to repel elephants in the northern part of KNP

In each village, improved collective governance will support the establishment of a collective and reasoned fight by local communities, "collective surveillance committees" against wildlife incursions accompanied by KNP management authorities (UWA). It is necessary to combine several methods, taking into account the situation on a given spatial and temporal scale. Elephants and chimpanzees quickly understand and adapt to the strategies put in place by humans, so it is essential to have collective strategies adapted to each territory, not relaxing surveillance and adapting them over time to the animals' responses. The aim is therefore to provide "collective surveillance committees" with equipment for non-violent monitoring and repulsion of elephants and primates, and to reduce the feeling of powerlessness and injustice of farmers living in the vicinity of KNP, but also their food insecurity and poverty. In each village, improved collective governance will make it possible to support the establishment of a collective and reasoned fight by local communities, "collective surveillance committees" against wildlife incursions accompanied by the KNP management authorities (UWA). It is necessary to combine several methods, taking into account the situation on a given spatial and temporal scale. Elephants and chimpanzees quickly understand and adapt to the strategies put in place by humans, so it is essential to have collective strategies adapted to each territory, not relaxing surveillance and adapting them over time to the animals' responses. It is therefore a question of providing "collective surveillance committees" with equipment for non-violent monitoring and repulsion of elephants and primates and reducing the feeling of powerlessness and injustice of farmers living in the KNP, but also their food insecurity and poverty.

2) Extension of hive fences to repel elephants

The sub-counties and the District have already subsidized the purchase of hives from one of the village groups founded by one of the SCP assistants as part of the elephant hive fencing programme. The SCP has contributed and subsidised the implementation of the projects of two village associations (SCOP and NCCP) in two zones to the east and west of the park and a study to evaluate the effectiveness is underway. For the past two years, SCP has subsidized training in beekeeping for these two associations and monitoring by a NARO technician on a bi-monthly basis. It will be a question of amplifying and enhancing these actions, by determining the sites where this experience could be replicated. These projects will only be able to function properly when insecticides are no longer used near the hives and therefore the fields to be protected.  Parallel to these installations, awareness and training sessions are organized by NARO in collaboration with SCP/PCGS aiming at setting up hives and beekeeping, as well as training in the construction of Kenyan hives and the manufacture of beekeeping equipment.

3) Identification of organic crops or crops that are palatable to wildlife with a view to reducing human-animal conflicts

A report presenting different species that are not palatable to wildlife and can be grown in agro-ecology on the edge of KNP will be produced by NARO's local research institute (Rwebitaba). Kahangi Estate will also provide support in the choice of the preferred crop sectors based on more than 15 years of field experience. This assessment will be the result of analyses carried out in the immediate periphery of the KNP and of their own research carried out at the station on yield improvement, taking into account pedoclimatic conditions, current agricultural practices, the frequency of animal incursions, etc. The objective is to propose crops that can constitute a buffer zone that is not attractive to wildlife between the KNP and village crops, while guaranteeing first and foremost the food security of the villagers and secondly, the marketing of the products.  By carrying out a participatory and collective mapping of alternative crops, the producers choose together the crops to be planted in the buffer zone, according to the different options presented following the report, NARO and URDT co-facilitate this exercise.  NARO and URDT provide technical and seed support to producers for the establishment of alternative crops in the buffer zone. 

 

4) Monitoring the effectiveness of new human-wildlife conflict mitigation activities and the impact of exposure to chemical pollutants on human and wildlife health 

Various analyses are set up to monitor the effectiveness of the project. These are doctoral theses that reflect the research-action dynamics of FoFauPopU and make it possible to monitor the impacts of the various activities undertaken and to draw lessons for action. Two Mnhn doctoral theses are financed via CIFRE grants between the Museum and two project partners (KINOME and NOE) on human-chimpanzee and human-elephant relations.  A human and social scientific monitoring is carried out to understand the perception of the actors (UWA, elephants, chimpanzees, SCP team,...) and the evolution of this perception during the implementation of the project. In the park and its periphery, the SCP and the Mnhn will set up a monitoring system for pesticide exposure of humans and wildlife through the analysis of air, water and urine samples. The analysis of the dosage of pesticides responsible for facial malformations and sterility, as well as the monitoring of chimpanzee and baboon births, will report on the effectiveness of the actions carried out by FoFauPopU.

5) Coordination of the project's research efforts in relation to human-animal conflicts to ensure overall coherence, scientific dissemination and popularisation. 

The tasks described above are based on the work of the PCS/PCGS project teams and their collaboration with local actors. PCGS ensures the follow-up of actions, the communication of results to key partners and their dissemination to the Ugandan (local and national press) and French media. With the aim of developing action research, the SCP teams accompany doctoral students in their activities. The infrastructure of the Sebitoli station allows for office work, meetings, accommodation and analysis. The PCGS undertakes to implement all the logistical and operational means of the SCP to facilitate all the actions. In addition, in order to evaluate the effect of the actions on wildlife, biodiversity monitoring is carried out through the deployment of 20 camera-traps over the entire territory of the chimpanzees and along the edge of the park and the fields of the villagers: analysis of videos to identify the different species present according to season and location, the number of individuals, age and sex categories and mutilations observed. They will also make it possible to record the incursions of animals into the fields and humans into the forest and the type of illegal activities practiced.