Relevance of Indigenous Knowledge in Sustainable Management of Forest Resources in the 21st Century Uganda

  • Jimmy Rhombe Alule Gulu University
  • Expedito Nuwategeka, PhD Gulu University
  • George Oriangi, PhD Gulu University
  • Wilfred Lajul, PhD Gulu University
Sambaza Makala:

Ikisiri

Sub-Saharan Africa is endowed with indigenous knowledge systems and natural forest resources critical to supporting several forms of development. However, the region has experienced rapid population growth and demographic changes, which may lead to a decline in forest resources. Sustainable management of these resources is critical for a healthy forest ecosystem that should continue to provide goods and services to the present and future generations. Of the variety of management strategies employed in the sustainable management of forest resources, indigenous knowledge provides a plausible alternative. To ascertain the relevance of this knowledge, the Lugbara community in Yumbe district, northwestern Uganda, was considered. Data were collected from 371 respondents using questionnaires and 19 key informants using interviews; others included participatory GIS and remote sensing. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, thematic and content analysis, and a forest cover change matrix. The results indicated a highly significant correlation between IK availability and usefulness of 0.703 at 0.01 level, and the socioeconomic and demographic variables tested statistically significant with sub-county of origin alone accounting for 11.7% of the variations in utilisation of IK in forest management. Indigenous knowledge was mostly used in the management of community forest resources, while modern scientific approaches were used in managing public forests. The forest resources were not sustainably managed despite the relatively high prevalence of IK. The linear model summary results were marginally significant, indicating that the prevalence of IK accounted for only approximately six% (R2 = .059) of the variations in SMFR. However, there was a resurrected interest in the use of IK since some forests managed using strict customary laws were the most biologically diverse. The resurrected interest implies that the IK remains relevant in the 21st century. The study therefore, recommends that IK practises be documented, promoted, and integrated into modern formal approaches to achieve SMFR

Upakuaji

Bado hatuna takwimu za upakuaji.

Marejeleo

Aboh, C. L., Ohara, E. E., & Felix, A. C. (2019). Utilization of Indigenous Knowledge in Forest Conservation Practices in Ikom Agricultural Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of Advances in Scientific Research and Engineering, 5(7), 223–230. https://doi.org/10.31695/ijasre.2019.33417

Adom, D., Kquofi, S., & Asante, E. A. (2016). The High Impacts of Asante Indigenous Knowledge in Biodiversity Conservation Issues in Ghana: The case of the Abono and Essumeja Townships in Ashanti Region. British Journal of Environmental Sciences, 4(3), 63–78.

Asante, E. A., Ababio, S., & Boadu, K. B. (2017). The Use of Indigenous Cultural Practices by the Ashantis for the Conservation of Forests in Ghana. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016687611

Ayaa, D. D., & Waswa, F. (2016). Role of indigenous knowledge systems in the conservation of the bio-physical environment among the Teso community in Busia County-Kenya. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 10(12), 467–475. https://doi.org/10.5897/ajest2016.2182

Baghramian, M. and J. A. C. (2021). “Relativism” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Bandura, A. (2019). Social learning: Theory. In Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior (pp. 380–386). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813251-7.00057-2

Berkes, F., & Berkes, M. K. (2009). Ecological complexity, fuzzy logic, and holism in indigenous knowledge. Futures, 41(1), 6–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2008.07.003

Beyene, E., & Bellis, D. (2020). Roles of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) in Promoting Sustainable Development: The Case of Environmental Protection among the Hararghe Oromo. East African journal of social sciences and humanities, 4(2019), 13–28.

Boafo, Y. A., Saito, O., Kato, S., Kamiyama, C., Takeuchi, K., & Nakahara, M. (2016). The role of traditional ecological knowledge in ecosystem services management: the case of four rural communities in Northern Ghana. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services and Management, 12(1–2), 24–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/21513732.2015.1124454

Braun, V., Clarke, V., Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2017). Applied Qualitative Research in Psychology. Applied Qualitative Research in Psychology, 0887(2006). https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-35913-1

Burgos-Ayala, A., Jiménez-Aceituno, A., Torres-Torres, A. M., Rozas-Vásquez, D., & Lam, D. P. M. (2020). Indigenous and local knowledge in environmental management for human-nature connectedness: a leverage points perspective. Ecosystems and People, 16(1), 290– 303. https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2020.1817152

Cajete, G. (2019). Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Native Science and Sustaining Indigenous Communities (p. Book). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108552998

Camacho, L. D., Gevaña, D. T., Carandang, A. P., & Camacho, S. C. (2016). Indigenous knowledge and practices for the sustainable management of Ifugao forests in Cordillera, Philippines. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services and Management, 12(1–2), 5–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/21513732.2015.1124453

Carson, S. L., Kentatchime, F., Nana, E. D., Njabo, K. Y., Cole, B. L., & Godwin, H. A. (2018). Indigenous Peoples’ Concerns About Loss of Forest Knowledge: Implications for Forest Management. Conservation and Society, 16(4), 431–440. https://doi.org/10.4103/cs.cs_17_105

Cunninghaam, W. P. & Cunningham. M. N. (2004). Principles of Environmental Science. McGraw Hills, London.

Depicker, A., Jacobs, L., Mboga, N., Smets, B., Van Rompaey, A., Lennert, M., Wolff, E., Kervyn, F., Michellier, C., Dewitte, O., & Govers, G. (2021). Historical dynamics of landslide risk from population and forest-cover changes in the Kivu Rift. Nature Sustainability, 4(11), 965–974. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-021-00757-9

Diansyah, M. W., Abas, A., & Sakawi, Z. (2022). Exploring the relevance of engaging the Orang Asli in Malaysia’s forest management. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 5(November). https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2022.1019994

FAO. (2020a). Assessment of Forest Resource Degrada and Interven on Options in Refugee-Hosing Areas of Western and Southwestern Uganda Assessment of Forest Resource Degradation and Western and Southwestern Uganda. Rome, Italy.

FAO. (2020b). Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 Main report. Rome, Italy.

Fernández-llamazares, Á., Lepofsky, D., Lertzman, K., Armstrong, C. G., Brondizio, E. S., Michael, C., Lyver, P. O. B., Nicholas, G. P., Pascua, P., Reo, N. J., Reyes-garcía, V., Turner, N. J., Yletyinen, J., Anderson, E. N., Balée, W., Cariño, J., David-chavez, D. M., Dunn, C. P., Stephen, C., … Niniwum, S. J. (2021). Scientists Warning to Humanity on Threats to Indigenous and Local Knowledge Systems. 145. 41(2), 144–169.

Fraser, A. (2019). Achieving the Sustainable Management of Forests. https://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-030-15839-2

Gadgil, M., Berkes, F., & Folke, C. (2021). Indigenous knowledge: From local to global: This article belongs to Ambio’s 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Biodiversity Conservation. Ambio, 50(5), 967–969. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-020-01478-7

Garnett, S. T., Burgess, N. D., Fa, J. E., Fernández-llamazares, Á., Molnár, Z., Robinson, C. J., Watson, J. E. M., Zander, K. K., Austin, B., Brondizio, E. S., Collier, N. F., Duncan, T., Ellis, E., Geyle, H., & Jackson, M. V. (2018). Indigenous lands for conservation. Nature Sustainability, 1(July), 369–374. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-018-0100-6

Getahun, J. M. (2016). Oromo Indigenous Knowledge and Practices in Natural Resources Management: Land, Forest, and Water in Focus. Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7625.1000181

Gondo. R, Mogomotsi, P.K, and M. G. (2018). Integration of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Natural Resources Management in Hurungwe District, Zimbabwe. International Journal of African Renaissance Studies -September 2020. https://doi.org/10.1080/18186874.2018.1475869

Gratani, M. (2015). Promoting the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge in natural resource management: a case study from the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia.

IFAD, I. F. for A. D. (2016). The Traditional Knowledge Advantage. https://www.ifad.org/documents/10180/2a1e3eb4-51a3-4746-8558-2fc1e6d3e645

IUFRO. (2017). Interconnecting Forests, Science & People. September. 2017.

Jha, D. (2008). Indigenous Technology and Agricultural Research System. Agricultural Economics Research, 21(June), 1–4.

Keenan, R. J., Reams, G. A., Achard, F., de Freitas, J. V., Grainger, A., & Lindquist, E. (2015). Dynamics of global forest area: Results from the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015. Forest Ecology and Management, 352, 9– 20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2015.06.014

Lajul, W. (2018). Reconstructing African fractured epistemologies for African development. Synthesis Philosophica, 33(1), 51–76. https://doi.org/10.21464/sp33104

Macdicken, K. G. (2015). Forest Ecology and Management Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015: What, why and how? Forest Ecology and Management, 352, 3–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2015.02.006

Mafongoya, P. L. and Ajayi, O. C. (2017). Indigenous knowledge systems and climate change management in Africa. In Publications.Cta.Int (Issue November).

Malunda Paul Netalisile and Atwebembeire Juliet. (2021). (2021) Introduction to Research Methods for Graduate Students. Fountainn Publishers Kampala (First Edit). Fountain Publishers.

Maru, Y., Gebrekirstos, A., & Haile, G. (2020). Indigenous ways of environmental protection in Gedeo community, Southern Ethiopia: A socio-ecological perspective. Cogent Food and Agriculture, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1766732

Mavhura, E., & Mushure, S. (2019). Forest and wildlife resource-conservation efforts based on indigenous knowledge: The case of Nharira community in Chikomba district, Zimbabwe. Forest Policy and Economics, 105(May), 83–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2019.05.019

Mbobda, T., Bruno, R., Cédric, C. D., Phanuella, D. S., Arsel, N., Valery, N. N., Nfornkah, B. N., Funwi, F. P., Banoho, K., Paul, L., Christian, Z. J., Jean-paul, A. N., Frank, W. P., Roger, N. L., & Louis, Z. (2018). Indigenous knowledge as a tool for Wildlife Conservation in the Dja Biosphere Reserve, Cameroon. International Journal of S ocial Sciences and Humanities. 6/4, pp 148-156

Milupi, I., Somers, M., & Ferguson, W. (2017). Local ecological knowledge and community based management of wildlife resources: a study of the Mumbwa and Lupande Game Management areas of Zambia. Southern African Journal of Environmental Education, 33(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.4314/sajee.v.33i1.3

Murmu, S. C. (2019). Indigenous Knowledge on Forest Management: An Approach Towards Development. January 2018.

NEMA. (2010). National State of the Environment Report for Uganda. National State of Environment Report, Kampala, Uganda 1–204. http://www.nemaug.org

Ndlovu, M. (2014). Why indigenous knowledges in the 21st century? A decolonial turn. Yesterday and Today, 11(11), 84–98.

Nelson, M. K. &, & Shilling, D. (2019). Traditional ecological knowledge: learning from indigenous practices for environmental sustainability. In D. & Shilling & M. K. Nelson (Eds.), Ethnobiology Letters. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

NEMA. (1995). State of the Environment Report for Uganda. Kampala, Uganda. 238. http://books.google.com/books/about/State_of_the_environment_report_for_Ugan.html?id=PwISAQAAIAAJ

Nguyen, T. H., & Ross, A. (2017). Barriers and opportunities for the involvement of indigenous knowledge in water resources management in the Gam River Basin in North-East Vietnam. Water Alternatives, 10(1), 134–159.

Nuwategeka, E., & Nyeko, M. (2017). Indigenous land suitability evaluation system of the Acholi tribe of Northern Uganda. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development. 9(May), 97–110.

Nwakile, T. C. Ejiofor T.C and Ali, C. C. (2018). Characterization of Forest Resources and their Users for Evolving Management Options for Local Users in Ozubulu community of Anambra Research. International Journal of Multidisciplinery and Current Research. Vol 5, 1-9

Our Common Future. (1987). The Brundtland Report: World Commission on Environment and Development. The Top 50 Sustainability Books, 52– 55. https://doi.org/10.9774/gleaf.978-1-907643-44-6_12

Parrotta, J., Yeo-Chang, Y., & Camacho, L. D. (2016). Traditional knowledge for sustainable forest management and provision of ecosystem services. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services and Management, 12(1– 2), 1– 4. https://doi.org/10.1080/21513732.2016.1169580

Reyes-García, V., Fernández-Llamazares, Á., Aumeeruddy-Thomas, Y., Benyei, P., Bussmann, R. W., Diamond, S. K., García-del-Amo, D., Guadilla-Sáez, S., Hanazaki, N., Kosoy, N., Lavides, M., Luz, A. C., McElwee, P., Meretsky, V. J., Newberry, T., Molnár, Z., Ruiz-Mallén, I., Salpeteur, M., Wyndham, F. S., … Brondizio, E. S. (2022). Recognizing Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ rights and agency in the post-2020 Biodiversity Agenda. Ambio, 51(1), 84–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-021-01561-7

Sillitoe, P. (1998). The Development of Indigenous Knowledge: A New Applied Anthropology. Current Anthropoloty 39(2). pp.223-252.

Sinthumule, N. I., & Mashau, M. L. (2020). Traditional ecological knowledge and practices for forest conservation in Thathe Vondo in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Global Ecology and Conservation, 22, e00910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00910

Siyanbola, W. O., Egbetokun, A. A., Oluseyi, I., Olamade, O. O., Aderemi, H. O., & Sanni, M. (2012). Indigenous Technologies and Innovation in Nigeria: Opportunities for SMEs. American Journal of Industrial and Business Management, 02(02), 64–75. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajibm.2012.22009

Su, K., Ren, J., Qin, Y., Hou, Y., & Wen, Y. (2020). Efforts of indigenous knowledge in forest and wildlife conservation: A case study on Bulang people in Mangba village in Yunnan province, China. Forests, 11(11), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11111178

Subrahmanyeswari, B., & Chander, M. (2013). Integrating indigenous knowledge of farmers for sustainable organic farming: An assessment in Uttarakhand state of India. 12(April), 259–264.

Sullo, C., King, R. S., Yiridomoh, G. Y., & Doghle, K. (2020). Indigenous knowledge indicators in determining climate variability in rural Ghana. Rural Society, 29(1), 59–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/10371656.2020.1758434

Tabuti, J. R. S., & Van Damme, P. (2012). Review of indigenous knowledge in Uganda: implications for its promotion. Afrika Focus, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.21825/af.v25i1.4961

Thiong’o, N. wa. (1965). River Between- Ngugi.pdf. Heinnemann. London.

UBOS. (2020). Uganda bureau of statistics 2020 statistical abstract. Kampala, Uganda.

UBOS. (2016). "National population and housing census 2014—main report,” Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS): Kampala, Uganda, 2016.

United Nations. (2017). Progress Towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Conference Proceedings, E/2017/66, 1–19.

United Nations. (2021). Challenges and Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples’ Sustainability | DISD. 101, 1–6. https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/2021/04/indigenous-peoples-sustainability/

Whyte, K. (2019). Traditional Ecological Knowledge: What do Indigenous Knowledges do for Indigenous People? Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/1017/9781108552998.

Tarehe ya Uchapishaji
4 September, 2023
Jinsi ya Kunukuu
Alule, J., Nuwategeka, E., Oriangi, G., & Lajul, W. (2023). Relevance of Indigenous Knowledge in Sustainable Management of Forest Resources in the 21st Century Uganda. East African Journal of Environment and Natural Resources, 6(1), 277-296. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajenr.6.1.1408

Makala zilizo somwa zaidi kama hii.