My pronouns are she/her
My Master's project aims to characterise the attitudes and perceptions of communities living in villages adjacent to Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP), the largest protected area in Uganda, using semi-structured household surveys. Protected areas (PAs) are a central part of conservationists’ efforts to tackle biodiversity decline, but their value in protecting biological resources is variable. Collaborative management with local people is key to the success of PAs, and where this is lacking, local support for conservation tends to be weaker, leading to unintended negative biodiversity consequences. Instead, local communities must be uplifted by the presence of a PA, with accessible avenues for community engagement and professional development.
Ecotourism holds the potential to offer stable, well-paid job opportunities, but institutional, cultural and technical barriers impede access. This project seeks to identify and address these barriers through an evidence-based approach. By gaining insights into the challenges faced by local communities, the research aims to contribute valuable information to the Innovation for Conservation (ICON) Uganda Programme. ICON strives to empower communities affected by the presence of MFNP by creating clear pathways to employment and entrepreneurship, ensuring that the park's conservation efforts positively impact local livelihoods.
