Sounds of the Jungle Discovery: Our Clients Comment About Uganda Tourism, Community Based Tourism A Positive Gear To Save Forests

Community based tourism is a key route to income generation for communities living around protected areas. It is a simple initiative because it starts with involving all women, men, youth, disabled and children at the destinations. There are three ways in which communities benefit from tourism: the income generation out of their labour, sale of their products to clients and Non financial-partnerships.

As the tourist season is ending our clients commented a lot about the disrespect for forests protection in Uganda and urge us responsible operators to call up attention of Ugandan leaders about the threat of deforestation. Therefore there should be supportive use of alternative resources like gas instead of charcoal; unfortunately even people living in Kampala cook with charcoal. Then our client’s comments about the ugly commercialized plantation of not autoctonous trees like pines in and around protected forests (Bwindi forest reserve).

Destroyed Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Therefore, to “save forests” we have to embrace and enhance community based tourism, love and adore what we have, learn and sensitize to sustainably conserve the natural and cultural resources, empower the masses including the technocrats especially the legislators about community based tourism. This concept will save Mabira forest with the inhabit resources from threat of sugar plantation interest, yet the conservation of this forest is self explanatory. Survey revealed that Bugoma forest reserve is completely deforested for Tobacco farming. This block is positive example as a migration corridor for chimps and other bio-diversity between the Murchison and Kibale National Park. We emphasise saving the Forests in Uganda. Check more details on our website Save The Forest

Destroyed Bugoma Forest

For these reasons it’s vital to emphasize the concept for good services to be given to the tourists who come to experience local traditions and interact with local communities, learning about other cultures, while contributing to the low income earners “the poor communities”. A case in point is the Boomu women group at Budongo forest and Batwa trail launched in June 7-2011 at Mgahinga National park, which will showcase the win-win scenario between environmental and social-cultural sustainable scenario to promote sustainable tourism. Destination Jungle suggests taking this activity, since it is a genuine and authentic project, not a commercial one, but aimed at the real development of Batwa communities, moreover offering to visitors an unforgettable experience.