Lasting Impact Secured Against The Odds
Lasting Impact Secured Against The Odds
Four years ago, Tusk and Ripple Effect (formerly Send a Cow) launched the Living with Wildlife appeal to help people and wildlife live side by side in and around Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP), Uganda. The appeal ran for three months, and thanks to the generosity of Tusk and Ripple Effect’s supporters, it significantly exceeded its original fundraising target: £1.3million was raised overall, which was generously matched by the UK government.
The funds were used to ensure that 37,300 people now have improved food security, increased livelihood opportunities, and more positive relations with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). This impact became more important than ever in supporting the park and local communities through some very difficult times over the past few years.
Towards the end of the appeal, the Covid pandemic struck. Tourism to Murchison Falls collapsed as restrictions to control the spread of the virus were introduced. Without tourism, no revenue is generated to pay rangers or to support the protection of the park: the 20% of tourism income that the Uganda Wildlife Authority invests in the community evaporated, and the only vibrant economy folded in an area where unemployment was already rife. As feared, the hunting and trapping of wildlife began to soar, along with the collection of natural resources such as firewood, as people tried to make ends meet.
The challenges presented by Covid were added to as the River Nile flooded to levels higher than in recorded history. The floods displaced thousands of fishermen and farmers living along the banks of the Nile and the shores of Lake Albert, many of whom resorted to poaching as an alternative. Hippos that normally frequent the shallow areas and sandy beaches were meanwhile pushed into community areas, feeding on crops and putting villagers in great danger. The Living with Wildlife project’s role in supporting and promoting human-wildlife co-existence therefore became greater than ever.