Lodge concessions and wildlife conservation in Uganda: a case study of Queen Elizabeth National Park

Abstract

Concessions are one of the many market-based approaches known as Tourism User Fees that generate revenues from conservation based - tourism enterprises such as lodges which can be directed towards supporting conservation. In Uganda, managers of conservation areas such as National Parks partly depend on lodge concessions for their conservation needs. This study was conducted at Queen Elizabeth National Park to investigate the impacts of lodge concession on wildlife conservation. The objectives were; 1) To examine the nature of concession agreements in QENP, 2) To assess compliance with guidelines and effects of lodge concession on wildlife conservation in Queen Elizabeth National Park and 3) To examine the challenges in the implementation of lodge concession agreements with respect to wildlife conservation in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. A field cross sectional survey of conducted basing on lodges with concession and all the stakeholders from UWA was conducted. Data were collected using structured questionnaires comprising close and open-ended questions and Key Informant Interviews. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 24. Quantitative data were summarized into averages, frequencies and percentages. Ordinal regression was carried out to determine the associations were established between knowledge and existence of guidelines and the sex of the respondents since the dependent variable (Guidelines are in place and are known) was ranked from strongly agree (rank 5) to strongly disagree (rank 1) was fit for this type of analysis. Correspondence Analysis was carried out to establish the impacts and challenges faced by different Lodge Concessions. The study revealed that the concessions in QENP are Lodges and water-based cruises. Concession period ranges from 10 to 30 years. Although there are clearly set guidelines for each concessionaire and Government efforts to enforce them, lodge concessions have negatively affected the environment and wildlife conservation within QENP. There were non-compliances with the guidelines by some concessionaires. The impacts on wildlife like disturbance of animal migration, changes natural habitant of animals and others. Conservation is attributed to weak enforcement of concession guidelines and the existence of the challenges that limit their implementation. The concessions face challenges that limit effective implementation of the concession guidelines put in place by UWA. Failure to address the challenges will affect biodiversity conservation, preclude sustainable use of wildlife and negatively affect Conservation.