Many World Heritage Sites are at risk from resource overuse and exploitation due to the livelihood needs of communities living in their surrounding areas, through creative and flexible implementation of the Market Analysis and Development (MA&D) approach developed by FAO. This working paper describes the community-based commercial enterprise development project (EDP) that was carried out in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest World Heritage Site in Uganda, and highlights the challenges posed by this particular forest resources context. The Community-Based Commercial Enterprise Development Project for the Conservation of Biodiversity at Bwindi World Heritage Site was funded by the United Nations Fund (UNF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The project was implemented from 2001 to 2004 by a national non-governmental organization (NGO), the Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Conservation Trust (MBIFCT), with support from FAO. The project had the overall goal of demonstrating that community-based tree and forest product enterprises can contribute to both poverty alleviation and the conservation of biodiversity. Its immediate objective was to establish community-based enterprises that provide sustained income to community members living in the areas surrounding the site.

Type of Case
Printed publication (book, sourcebook, journal article…)

Publisher
FAO

Region
Africa

Biome
Tropical

Forest Type
All forest types (natural and planted)

Primary Designated Function
All