| dc.description.abstract | Biosphere Reserves (BRs) are large protected areas where all the biotic components of the ecosystem (plants, animals, humans, etc.) Coexist by respecting each other’s needs. Over the past six decades, since 1971, people across the globe have utilized BRs, designated under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, to explore local solutions to global ecosystem challenges, thereby generating a wealth of experience and innovative potential for a sustainable future that emphasizes the conservation of natural resources in general and biodiversity in particular. BRs serve three functions namely conservation, sustainable development and logistic support. As of January 2023, there are 738 BRs including 22 trans-boundary sites in 134 countries. The BRs cooperate in a global network, the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). There are 90 biosphere reserves in 33 countries in Africa, of which Uganda has two (2): The Mount Elgon and
Queen Elizabeth National Parks Biosphere Reserves. The BRs are designed to be managed on the basis of MAB Strategy and the Lima Action Plan under the WNBR and the relevant Conventions in the case of the World Heritage Sites and the Ramsar
Sites. BR management calls for coexistence between the community and the ecosystem in areas that are zoned as CORE, BUFFER, and TRANSITION AREAS and designated for purposes as defined in the MAB Principles. The fact that the idea of BRs is new in Uganda, and there is, therefore, lack of knowledge in their management, coupled with the lack of provision for BRs in the Laws of Uganda governing the protected areas, have made it difficult for the Park Authorities to exercise the roles laid down in the MAB Strategy. There was, therefore, need to start training stakeholders with the training of the staff of UWA in the BRs management principles so as to enable them to be well equipped in the management of the BRs and other globally-designated sites. There was also need to train the communities that are living and sharing boundaries with the 2 BRs in order to eliminate the incessant conflicts between the communities and the staff of UWA. In addition, the routine transfers of UWA staff between the Biosphere Reserves (BRs) and the non-globally-designated sites called for an urgent
need to target the entire staff of the Authority to impart the necessary knowledge and skills that
can permeate the entire Organization.
It is with that background that the objective of the training workshop was designed to build the capacity of all the Conservation Managers for effective and efficient management of BRs and other UNESCO-designated sites in accordance with the principles of MAB. The training workshop on capacity building for the management of Queen Elizabeth and Mount Elgon National Parks Biosphere Reserves took place at three locations: the one for the senior staff at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquity took place in Kampala, and that for the field staff in Eastern Region was held in Mbale, while that for the field staff in Western Region was held at Mweya on the shores of Lake Edward. A total of 58 participants, 22 in Kampala, 17 in Mable, and 19 at Mweya attended the workshop. The training methodology was interactive as the trainers ensured that knowledge was not only disseminated but accurately perceived and understood by the participants. In order to ensure this, trainers engaged participants in discussions and kept the forum open for feedback, queries and suggestions. These discussions and interactive sessions were supported through training material such as power point presentations and handouts. The implementation of the project started with Celebration of the international Day for Biosphere Reserves on 3rd November 2023. | en_US |
