Perceived tenure security in collaborative forest management: a case of Budongo forest, mid-western Uganda.

Abstract

Perceived tenure security is widely recognized as a key determinant of land use decisions. The level of perceived tenure security shapes community participation in conservation activities, sustainable resource use, and benefit-sharing arrangements. Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) has been promoted to enhance local resource users’ forest tenure security to achieve win-win forest conservation and livelihood outcomes. This study investigated the role of perceived tenure security in CFM in Budongo Central Forest Reserve in mid-western Uganda. Specifically, it sought to (i) assess the level of perceived tenure security in CFM (ii) examine the factors influencing perceived tenure security and (iii) examine the relationship between perceived tenure security and participation in collaborative forest management activities. Quantitative data was collected from 180 households in villages surrounding Budongo Central Forest Reserve. In addition focus group discussions, and key informant interviews were held with leaders of three CFM groups (Budongo Good Neighbours Conservation Association, Siiba Conservation Environment and Development Association and Karujubu Forest Adjacent Community Association) and other opinion leaders in the area. Descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were run to analyze the quantitative data while content analysis was used for the qualitative data. The research findings reveal that CFM participants exhibit significantly higher levels of perceived tenure security than non-participants, particularly regarding their access, withdrawal, and management rights. Socio-demographic factors such as age, education, income, and proximity to forests significantly influenced these perceptions. There was a positive relationship between perceived tenure security and participation in CFM activities which highlights the importance of secure tenure in fostering community involvement and sustainable forest management practices. However, challenges such as limited awareness about CFM activities, resource constraints, and conflicts over forest use hinder broader community participation. Strengthening perceived tenure security requires targeted education campaigns, improved local infrastructure, and support for income-generating activities, alongside inclusive decision-making processes and formalized tenure rights to ensure equitable forest resource access and foster participation in CFM. Future research should explore gender disparities in participation, the role of traditional roles knowledge and societal expectations in shaping perceived forest tenure security.