Makerere University

‘Heritage conservation and livelihoods – Bridging the gap through tourism partnership’

Gaps exist between conservation areas and livelihoods in the Albertine Rift, Uganda, leading persistently to encroachment, de-gazetting campaigns for human settlement and resentment of protected area policies that favor nature conservation. Biodiversity Support Program Africa noted that the viability of protected areas in Africa hinges on the cooperation and support of local people. A research gap exists in establishing effective sustainable tourism partnerships as an instrument for relationship building and community development. Richard’s study analyses the relation between heritage conservation and people living in the Albertine Rift, examines macro-environment for partnership formulation and implementation, evaluates tourism as an intervention for conservation and livelihood enhancement and assesses tourism development initiatives to support partnership and networks for conservation and livelihood enhancement.

Richard has finished his field work and is currently working on the analysis of the data.