Alternative Livelihood Options Research Articles

When tourism intersects traditional rural livelihoods: A case study on lagoon fishing in Thừa Thiên Huế Province, Vietnam

ABSTRACT Tourism development is an oft-touted strategy to enhance the livelihoods of local residents and reduce their dependence on resources. This study explores the determinants of lagoon fishermen’s participation in tourism-related activities and evaluates whether tourism is an alternative livelihood option for Thừa Thiên Huế Province, Vietnam. We employed propensity score matching to analyze the survey data from 265 households in the coastal area of the lagoon. Our study indicates that tourism cannot provide a sustainable livelihood for local residents if the locals forego their traditional livelihood practices and completely transform the region into a tourist attraction, even though it can contribute to increasing household income. Other factors, such as low levels of education and larger travel distances between the lagoons and existing tourist areas, are the primary barriers to fishermen participation in tourism. Finally, we analyzed the related policy and managerial implications to improve tourism and diversify the locals’ livelihoods.

Human‐wildlife conflict at high altitude: A case from Gaurishankar conservation area, Nepal

AbstractHuman–wildlife conflict studies of high‐altitude areas are rare due to budget constraints and the challenging nature of research in these remote environments. This study investigates the prevalence and increasing trend of human–wildlife conflict (HWC) in the mountainous Gaurishankar Conservation Area (GCA) of Nepal, with a specific focus on leopard (Panthera pardus) and Himalayan black bear (Ursus thibetanus laniger). The study analyzes a decade of HWC reports and identifies goats as the livestock most targeted by leopards. The Dolakha district of GCA received the highest number of reports, highlighting the need for mitigation measures in the area. In GCA, livestock attacks accounted for 85% of compensation, with the remaining 15% for human injuries. We estimate that the number of reported wildlife attacks grew on average by 33% per year, with an additional increase of 57 reports per year following the implementation of a new compensation policy during BS 2076 (2019 AD). While bear attacks showed no significant change post‐rule alteration, leopard attack reports surged from 1 to 60 annually, indicating improved compensation may have resulted in increased leopard‐attack reporting rates. The findings emphasize the economic impact of HWC on local communities and suggest strategies such as increasing prey populations, promoting community education and awareness, enhancing alternative livelihood options, developing community‐based insurance programs, and implementing secure enclosures (corrals) to minimize conflicts and foster harmonious coexistence. This research addresses a knowledge gap in HWC in high‐altitude conservation areas like the GCA, providing valuable insights for conservation stakeholders and contributing to biodiversity conservation and the well‐being of humans and wildlife.

EVALUATION OF CROSS RIVER NATIONAL PARK AS A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY LIVELIHOOD SUSTENANCE, NIGERIA

This research focused on evaluation of Cross River National Park as a catalyst for community livelihood sustenance, Nigeria. Interviews and Focus Group Discussions were used to obtained primary data. Reconnaissance survey was conducted for one month in the National park to assess the situation on ground and with the aid of a check-list. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to analyzed the data obtained from the study. Results findings shows that the current programs aimed at the development of the park's management were insufficient. To mitigate tensions between the park management and the communities, it is imperative to explore alternative livelihood options, with livestock rearing emerging as a viable avenue. This approach would provide the communities with improved economic opportunities.

“A little love is enough for me to live my life…”: Precarity and resilience among older sex workers in India

Most research on sex workers globally has focused on cis women sex workers vulnerabilities including violence, risk for HIV/AIDS, and stigma. Despite the plethora of studies on the topic, older sex workers are significantly underrepresented in research. We used a phenomenological approach to highlight street and home-based sex workers’ experiences. Using a purposive sampling strategy, 39 cis women sex workers were recruited from Karnataka, India and data were collected using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Findings revealed a range of changes in sex workers’ lives as they aged, financial instability, lack of alternate livelihood options, and limited access to governmental benefits and social security. Participant narratives challenged the notion of anticipated traditional familial support especially from their grown children. Findings were replete with instances of sex workers’ personal agency to confront personal and professional challenges. Peer networks formed the biggest forms of support as were sex workers’ connections with local community-based groups. There is an urgent need for helping professionals to recognize the ongoing marginalization faced by older sex workers. It is critical to address concerns broadly along with inequities in terms of access and power as experienced by older sex workers. Finally, examining the differential impact of ageism, structural barriers including neglect by the State, violence, and stigma that follow sex workers is vital.

Local Community Attitude towards Forest-Based Ecotourism Development in Arbegona and Nensebo Woredas, Southern Ethiopia

Understanding local community awareness and attitude towards forest-based ecotourism welfare is an important input for policymakers to develop and implement sustainable forest resource management strategies. However, the local community’s awareness and attitude towards forest-based ecotourism development have been poorly assessed and documented in remote areas. To this end, the present study assessed the local community’s awareness and attitude in Arbegona and Nensebo woredas’ forests, southern Ethiopia, towards ecotourism development. Household and key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data. Results indicated that more than half (57.9%) of the respondents expressed a negative attitude towards forest-based ecotourism development. The educational status of the respondents, their age, presence of conservation measures, source of energy for household consumption, and biophysical and socio-cultural variations in the study sites are significantly associated with local communities’ attitudes that have been exhibited towards the development of ecotourism and conservation of forest resources. Creating awareness through persuasion and communication of new and well-suited information, promoting alternative livelihood options, encouraging local benefits from the conservation of forest resources, and compensating costs induced by wild animals can minimise negative attitudes, thereby contributing to the enhancement of local communities’ positive attitudes towards forest resource conservation.

Risk assessment of the jhumias in eastern Himalayan region: An IPCC framework approach

Climate change is intricately linked with amplifying existing risk across multiple sectors, and assessment of the indigenous farmers practising jhum (jhumias) is highly necessary for developing adaptation strategies in the biogeographically-diverse northeast Himalayan region. The current study estimates the Shared Socio-Economic Pathway 2 (SSP2) – 4.5 hazard scenario for the year 2040–2059 using Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project 6 (CIMP6) (mean projection) and Multi-Model Ensemble. The remaining risk dimensions (exposure and vulnerability) were derived from household survey data involving 450 households from 18 villages representing six districts, three states, and four watershed basins. This framework used an indicator approach for defining risk dimensions and a spatial approach for the final risk presentation and classification. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to select and group the indicators. All chosen indicators underwent varimax rotation, and factors with eigenvalues greater than one were considered for grouping into components. Different weights for each indicator were defined using the Shanon entropy method. Climate change risk was found to be highest in Khudengthabi village in Chandel district, followed by Sangshak village in Ukhrul district. Lack of land ownership, low yield, no alternative livelihood option, an insufficient market, and unavailability of labour force are some of the major factors contributing to higher risk in the area. The study recommends skill development and alternative livelihood programmes with a new education policy that encourages the dropout youth to continue in schools and colleges. Subsequent policy initiatives should prioritize villages, indicators and components with high index scores to optimize resource allocation and facilitate quicker adaptation.

Climate Variability, Coastal Livelihoods, and the Influence of Ocean Change on Fish Catch in the Coastal Savannah Zone of Ghana

Coastal zones, despite their contribution to global economies, continue to suffer the negative impacts of climate variability, which limit the livelihoods of people, particularly small-scale fishermen. This study examined climate variability, coastal livelihoods, and the influence of ocean change on the total annual fish catch in Ghana’s Coastal Savannah zone. The mixed-methods approach was used to analyze primary data (semi-structured questionnaires and interviews), secondary data (sea surface temperature (SST) and salinity (SSS), and fish catch), and statistical tests (chi-square, binary logistic regression, and multiple regression). Findings revealed a significant increase in climate variability awareness among fishermen, attributed to the influence of broadcast media. However, they lack sufficient information regarding the transformation of cities, the urbanization process, and its impact on the global climate. Increasing temperatures and sea level rise emerged as the most prevalent impacts of climate variability over the past two decades in the zone. Although the fishermen lack awareness regarding the changes in SSS and their effects on fish, the findings of the multiple regression analysis established that changes in SSS exert a more pronounced effect on the decreasing fishing catch in the zone compared to those in SST. Empirical fish catch records supported the fishermen’s claim of a substantial decrease in total fish catch in the zone over the past 20 years. Aside from climate variability impacts, the involvement of many people and light fishing emerged as additional factors contributing to the decreasing fish catch in the zone. High premix fuel prices or shortages and “saiko” activities were the main obstacles that hindered the fishermen’s activities. “Saiko” is an unlawful activity in which foreign industrial trawlers sell fish directly to Ghanaian canoes or small-scale fishermen at sea. The fishermen lack sufficient means of supporting their livelihoods, as there is a lack of viable alternative livelihood options. Additionally, the majority of the fishermen experience symptoms of fever and headaches. The binary logistic regression analysis showed that the fishermen’s income insufficiency could be substantially reduced if they were to have their own houses, canoes, or fish all year. This situation highlights the need for heightened support from policymakers for improved sustainable livelihood prospects as well as health and well-being.

INTEREST MAPPING OF RETURNEE LABOUR MIGRANTS ON ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD OPTIONS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A CASE FROM KARNALI PROVINCE, NEPAL

The purpose of this study was to map the interest of the labor migrants on alternative livelihood options, who were forced to return home due to Covid-19 pandemic impact. This study employed mixed method- both quantitative and qualitative to gather and analyse information. A semi structured interview was conducted with 238 randomly selected returnee migrants from 17 municipalities of Karnali province, who have returned to their home due to Covid-19 effects from different country during March-June2020. Furthermore, three focused group discussions were conducted with local government elected representatives and staff to assess the local level policies and program to support the integration of returnee migrants at their society. The findings revealed that irrespective of the sex, age, country they have returned and duration of the stay, 90% of the respondent wanted to stay at home and start some enterprise for their livelihood. Among these who want to start enterprise, 90% of them have shown their interest in agriculture enterprising. Within the agriculture sector, the vegetable, goat and poultry subsector were the most preferred agri-enterprising by the returnee migrants. Based on the findings, this study suggests that the local governments need to formulate their policies, program and resources to promote such agricultural enterprising specially targeting to returnee migrants for creating self-employment to integrate returnee migrants locally.

Social drivers and differentiated effects of deagrarianisation: A longitudinal study of smallholder farming in South Africa's Eastern Cape province

South Africa's smallholders have progressively become disengaged from farming despite their lack of alternative livelihood options, resulting in the deepening of rural poverty. Farming's reduced role in rural livelihoods represents a wider trend of deagrarianisation seen across contexts and geographies. While most literature on deagrarianisation focuses on its economic dimensions, this paper places the social and cultural dimensions of farming at the centre of its analysis to understand why smallholders are becoming less engaged in agriculture. Drawing on Habermas's concept of the colonisation of the lifeworld and on ethnographic fieldwork in four villages in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, we show how local social cohesion in farming has been undermined by a series of oppressive state policies. Recent agricultural development interventions have not managed to break with this trend, but instead continue to undermine social cohesion and reciprocity. The impacts of this loss of social cohesion in farming have been most severe for the poorest households who seldom plant their fields today. Based on our findings, we suggest that agricultural development programmes should aim to build on smallholders' appreciation of agriculture, their remaining connections to the land and their sense of solidarity, rather than focusing exclusively on stimulating the development of individual entrepreneurs.

Population and conservation status of the endangered Dracaena ombet tree in dry Afromontane forests

Dracaena ombet, a flagship tree species in arid ecosystems, holds a significant ecological, economic, and socio-cultural value. However, its persistence is currently under threat from both anthropogenic and natural factors. Consequently, the species has been listed as an endangered tree species on the IUCN Red List, requiring urgent conservation actions for its continued existence. To develop effective conservation actions, it is necessary to have information on the population dynamics of the species. A study was conducted in the lowland and midland agroecological zones (sites) within the Desa'a dry Afromontane forest, northern Ethiopia to analyze the population status of D. ombet and identify its site-specific threats. At each site, abundance, health status, diameter, height and threats of the species were collected using 60 sample plots (20 m × 20 m) distributed over six transects (500 m × 20 m) spaced one km apart. The study showed that the D. ombet population was characterized by low abundance and unstable structure. It was further characterized by a substantial number of unhealthy damaged and dead trees. The low abundance of the species with unstable age structure in the dry Afromontane forests can be attributed to various factors such as stem cutting and debarking, leaf defoliation, overgrazing, soil erosion, and competition from expansive shrubs. Alternative livelihood options for the local inhabitants should be introduced to minimize the overexploitation of D. ombet for subsistence use in the dry Afromontane forests. The impacts of overgrazing and soil erosion on D. ombet and its Desa'a habitats should also be addressed through the introduction of community-based exclosures and in-situ soil and water conservation practices, respectively.

Integrated Spatial-Development Planning (InS-Dep) for Marine Space Utilization of the Coastal Village Communities

Marine space is inseparable from the livelihood of the communities in coastal villages in terms of utilizing marine resources, as the main occupation of the people is fisherman. They need to secure marine areas in front of the village, however, the village government hold authority neither in planning nor managing the marine space for village development in the formal spatial planning. This study attempted to identify challenges and opportunities in developing a village master plan for utilizing of marine space. This study carried out through participatory action during the process of village development planning (RPJMDes) by implementing Integrated Spatial-Development Planning (InS-DeP) model. This model integrates spatial plan into the development plan by constructing a village masterplan that includes plans for utilization of the marine space that complements development programs. From a series of FGDs, it is observed that InS-DeP model faces challenges in technical mapping and lack of knowledge regarding alternative livelihood options in developing the plan for future uses. Through this experience, by implementing InS-DeP model, coastal village government can prepare a master plan for marine space as a consensus with the community to ensure a balance between exploitation and conservation activities.

Navigating the Complexities: Land Reform in Post-Apartheid South Africa

In the nearly three decades since the advent of democracy in South Africa, land reform has remained a critical issue. The African National Congress (ANC) introduced Land Reform Policies (LRP) in 1994, aiming to address three core aspects: restitution, reform, and redistribution. In 2017, the ANC signalled its intent to begin land distribution without compensation following the amendment of Section 25 of the South African constitution. However, progress has been slow, with only 9% of farmland transferred to date. Corruption and other factors have hindered effective land distribution. The ANC’s historical success in land dispossession between 1994 and 2004 contrasts with recent difficulties. Their focus on capital-intensive farming has limited alternative livelihood options for beneficiaries. Moving forward, addressing corruption and considering diverse approaches will be crucial to achieving equitable land distribution for Black South Africans. This paper sheds light on the complexities of land reform, emphasizing the need for a multifaceted approach that balances historical justice, economic viability, and social aspirations.

Traditional utilization of bamboo in the Central Siwalik region, Nepal.

Bamboo are the fastest growing perennial woody grasses that have versatile applications. Most of the local people inhabiting the riverine area of the Siwalik region of Nepal rely on bamboo products for economic benefits and medicinal uses. Our objective was to identify the diversity of bamboo species, their ethnomedicinal practices, and economic and ecological importance. Data were collected by direct observation, key informant interviews, participatory rural appraisal, inventory technique, focus group discussions, and a household survey using semi-structured and structured questionnaires. We recorded four genera and nine species of bamboo, of which eight species have been used for agriculture, five for medicine, four for construction, food, fodder, artifacts and religious purpose, three for river embankment, and two for ornamental purpose. As the local people in the study area were deprived of medical facilities, using traditional herbal medicine to cure various diseases was a common practice. The inhabitants responded that they use bamboo-based primary ethnomedicinal care even against snake and scorpion bites. Similarly, they use bamboo young culm for reducing body weight and control diabetes. The value of the informant consensus factor was found to be maximum for the bamboo against snake and scorpion bites (1.0) and minimum for weight loss (0.81). This study concludes that the traditional utilization of all kinds of bamboo in the region is vast despite their less diversity. The recorded bamboo species are used not only for food and fodder but also in preparing artifacts, soil nutrients restoration in the fallow land, construction materials for the rural people, river embankments, and religious and spiritual purposes. Therefore, if grown on a large scale, bamboo can provide sustainable benefits for the local users and ecological aspects. Bambusa tulda and Dendrocalamus strictus have a broad spectrum of pharmacological agents. Considering the multifaceted application of bamboo in the Siwalik area, it is worthwhile to encourage the local people to bamboo plantation, which would contribute to supplement their household requirements and be one of the alternative livelihood options.

Impact of fishing ban on socioeconomic status of Hilsa fishers in Bangladesh

Fishing ban is a useful regulatory measure for sustainable management and conservation of hilsa shad (Tenualosailisha) in Bangladesh. This study investigated the socioeconomic status of hilsa fishers, as well as their perceptions regarding the performance of fishing bans and coping strategies. Data were collected from 300 fishers residing in the three study areas by using semi-structured questionnaire to collect data related to the livelihood and socioeconomic variables of the fishers. Besides, fishers’ perceptions regarding the performance of the ban as well as income generated from other activities during the fishing ban were also incorporated. Focus Group Discussions (FGD), Crosscheck Interviews (CI) with key informants’ interview was also conducted to collect general information and to justify the collected information. The majority of the fishers feel the bans have resulted in positive socioeconomic impacts which enhance their income and livelihood status from fishing. However, its impact on loss of income and level of unemployment during ban forced some fishers to drive away the ban. In contrast, diversified alternative livelihood options have been adopted by fishers to cope with the ban that not only pull them out from dependency solely on hilsa fishing but also reduce the fishing pressure on the hilsa fishery as well as fish biodiversity. The study showed a positive correlation between fishing ban and resources’ sustainability. In spite of the difficulties faced by fishers during ban, majority of the fishers support the ban for the long-term conservation of hilsa as it is their basic sustenance.

Developing Inclusive Tourism in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT): A Case Study on Sajek Valley, Bangladesh

The study focuses on the inclusivity of tourism development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, specifically in the Sajek Valley, and examines whether it has improved the socio-economic status of local ethnic minority groups. The research found that the development of tourism in Sajek Valley has brought numerous benefits to the local community, including modernization, improved access to education and electricity, and alternative livelihood options. Inclusive tourism has also helped to develop a sustainable tourism industry that values the preservation of cultural values and involves local leaders in decision-making. The development of tourism has also fostered a cordial relationship between Bengali businessmen, tourists, and local ethnic minority groups. However, challenges to inclusive tourism remain, including the relocation of local ethnic families, environmental concerns, a sense of relative deprivation among local ethnic minorities, and a lack of mutual trust between different ethnic groups. To ensure the sustainability of Sajek as a tourist destination, further research is necessary to understand and overcome these exclusionary factors. Overall, inclusive tourism has been a positive force in Sajek Valley, benefiting the local society and promoting sustainable development, but there are still areas to improve.

Bridging gaps in the Indian freshwater biodiversity conservation through science-based and policy-backed recommendations

India's freshwater biological resources are threatened by multiple stressors and ongoing conservation efforts are insufficient to tackle these challenges. We therefore propose 14 recommendations to halt India's freshwater biodiversity loss. i) Set up a separate ministry on biodiversity to develop and monitor policies. ii) Collection of comprehensive ecological data and sharing with the global scientific community for better assessment. iii) Assessment of data reliability and relevance towards conservation and sustainable management. iv) Integrating terrestrial-freshwater ecosystem management to effectively conserve freshwater biota. v) Implementation of environmental flow regulations for maintaining hydrological connectivity. vi) Augmentation of Protected Areas to protect freshwater biota. vii) Implementation of regulatory frameworks for trade in exotic species to reduce invasiveness. viii) Avoiding fish seed ranching programs in rivers to evade contamination of natural stocks and disease outbreaks from aquaculture. ix) Increasing collaboration between neighboring states and countries on shared freshwater ecosystem for global and regional sustainability. x) Inclusion of compulsory curriculum on biodiversity at different educational stages for developing responsibility towards protecting biodiversity. xi) Building trust among all stakeholders for better management plans through their active participation. xii) Providing alternative livelihood options to improve the socio-economic status of local people to reduce their direct dependency on freshwater ecosystems. xiii) Promotion of citizen science approach on remuneration basis in conserving freshwater biodiversity. xiv) Enabling better use of digital technologies for freshwater biodiversity monitoring. Inclusion of these timely science-based and policy-backed aquatic ecosystems protection guidelines will therefore help to achieve freshwater biodiversity conservation goals successfully in India.

Access to provisioning services by local communities from Mpanga central forest reserve in central Uganda

IntroductionForest resources are an important source of products on which rural communities depend for survival. Mpanga Central Forest Reserve (CFR) is a valuable resource to adjacent communities through provision of different goods and serves for subsistence and income generation. It also serves as an important eco-tourist site. However, there is scanty information regarding the products obtained from Mpanga CFR and their contribution to livelihoods of adjacent communities.MethodsThe study explored the provisioning services obtained from the CFR, assessed the contribution of the CFR to the surrounding communities and explored the challenges faced while obtaining these services from the forest reserve. Provisioning services are the material benefits supplied by the ecosystem. A total of 118 respondents were randomly selected from 11 villages in Kamengo sub-county Mpigi District and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires.Results and discussionThe residents obtained wild foods, medicinal herbs, fuelwood, construction and carving materials. Most of the respondents used obtained products for subsistence (51%) while the rest sold them. Regression analysis revealed that 76.5% of the variability in cash income from the CFR is significantly explained by age of respondents, period of stay and education level. Increase in age and educational level of respondents reduced ability to obtain cash income from the forest by (β = −0.19) and (β = −0.625), respectively but increase in period of stay acted in the reverse (β = 0.22). Despite the importance of provisioning services in improving the livelihood of communities adjacent the forest, some challenges in accessing the forest were reported. The quantities of some extracted species had declined over a 5-year period resulting in reduction of household income. This negatively impacts on the livelihoods of the young and uneducated that depend on forest activities for income generation. It is pertinent that alternative livelihood options are sought to address this trend. Also, forest management strategies should provide a win-win situation to forest managers and communities adjacent to the forest. This will not only preserve the forest resource but will also ensure a sustainable livelihood to forest dependent communities.

A perspective of sustainable livelihood framework in analysis of sustainability of rural community livelihoods: evidence from Migori River watershed in Kenya

ABSTRACT Evaluation of livelihood sustainability in ecologically sensitive areas, impoverished regions, and disaster-stricken zones is critical for understanding sustainability challenges and administering poverty-relief interventions. This paper assesses the sustainability of rural households’ livelihoods in the Migori River watershed in Kenya by constructing a livelihood sustainability index (LSI). A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data from 318 randomly selected households from the upstream, midstream, and downstream watershed zones. The LSI was constructed using the UK Department for International Development (DFID) methodology based on the five livelihood capitals, and one-way ANOVA was used to test for significant differences between watershed zones. The results of the analysis show that although the livelihoods of all the three watershed zones are moderately sustainable with no significant variations (at p < 0.05) between the zones, the livelihoods of midstream households are most sustainable followed by the upstream households and then downstream. The social (ranging from 0.64 to 0.69), physical (ranging from 0.60 to 0.67) and natural (ranging from 0.60 to 0.64) capitals registered relatively high index values across the watershed zones unlike the human (ranging 0.55–0.65) and financial (ranging from 0.44 to 0.57) capitals that recorded relatively low index values; which implies that human and the financial capitals are least possessed assets in the watershed. Therefore this paper recommends increasing the natural capital through sustained conservation of natural resources, increasing human capital by providing skills training to household on alternative livelihood options, and increasing access to financial capital by strengthening rural entrepreneurship. The paper suggests the usage of LSI by policy-makers as a practical tool to quantify the livelihood capital endowment of rural communities to help in prioritizing watershed management programs and the development of interventions aimed at a specific livelihood asset. It may also help policy-makers in project monitoring and evaluation, where it provides feedback critical for continual project improvement.

Spatial-Temporal Changes of Limoto Wetland Land Use/Cover Before, During and After Restoration Activities in Eastern Uganda

Purpose: Limoto Wetland is an arm of the Mpologoma wetland system in the Kyoga basin and is a vital ecosystem that supports rural livelihoods through the provision of various ecological goods and services. However, this ecosystem has been undergoing rapid degradation arising from competing land uses particularly paddy rice growing. In turn, this led to reduced capacity of the wetland to provide ecosystem services, thereby reducing the resilience of both the ecosystem and the livelihoods of adjacent communities. Interventions through a restoration program that introduced alternative livelihood options were instituted. It’s important to document these changes to obtain insights that can aid decision-making for effective restoration and conservation. This study, therefore, sought to examine the spatial-temporal changes in Limoto wetland land use/cover transitions for the years 2015, 2020, and 2022.&#x0D; Methodology: To quantify the wetland changes, remotely sensed imageries for 2015, 2020, and 2022 were utilized in classifying land use and land cover dynamics on Limoto Wetland through the Maximum Likelihood algorithm. A total of 500 points were collected from different land use/cover types and used as reference points to develop the image error matrices. Overall accuracy, producer’s and user’s accuracies as well as Kappa statistics were generated from the error matrices. A Kappa test was carried out to measure the extent of classification accuracy; the Kappa coefficient, K, being a coefficient of agreement. It reflects the difference between the actual agreement of classification with reference data and the agreement expected by chance.&#x0D; Findings: Results generally showed that five years after the restoration program (2020), Limoto wetlands regained over 50% of previously converted wetlands to farming. Papyrus coverage also more than doubled from 3.4% to 11.35% of the total wetland coverage. Farms degraded over the past years (1986-2019). However, in 2022, wetland coverage declined drastically as farming took up more than half of the coverage (55%) land, and built-up areas also increased. These changes between 2015-2020 were majorly driven by the introduction of alternative livelihood options which vacated communities from the wetland.&#x0D; Recommendation: The changes after 2020 were due to the unsustainability of the livelihood options and the effects of the Covid-19 lockdown which rendered only farming as the socio-economic activity, coupled with movement restrictions that curtailed monitoring and control of activities in wetlands by enforcers. The study recommends community-tailored, tenable, and sustainable alternative livelihood options to influence community-led wetland restoration and conservation to curb the continuous loss of this wetland.&#x0D;

The Mediating Role of Management Functions (Planning, Implementation, and Control) in Influencing the Restoration of Limoto Wetland

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the gap between wetland management functions and the extent of wise use and sustainable harnessing of livelihood opportunities through restoration programs. This study contributes to the comprehension of wetland management functions concerning wetland restoration through the promotion of sustainable livelihoods.&#x0D; Methodology: A cross-sectional research design was adopted. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and interviews. FGD was conducted with five groups of beneficiaries of livelihood options. Interviews were carried out with seven key informants who were thought to be knowledgeable about the wetland restoration alternative livelihood options. These included local council chairmen from communities near the wetland, village opinion leaders, district natural resources officers, IUCN Representatives, NEMA officials, and the wetland department.&#x0D; Findings: Results showed a positive but insignificant relationship between planning function and restoration activities. Furthermore, results also indicated a negative significant relationship between implementation and restoration activities. Finally, findings revealed that there was a relationship between the control function and restoration activities. It was found out that Wetland restoration is a process that helps to transform the wetland area that has been impacted by human or natural activity into an area that can sustain native habitats. Wetlands cover 6% of global and 13% of Uganda's land cover. Over the past forty-five years, wetlands have lost 30% and 36% of land cover globally and in Uganda respectively.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: Many wetlands, particularly those in rural Uganda are, however, getting degraded through mainly conversion of land use to agriculture, exploitation, and settlements despite the existing resource management regime. The study recommends inclusive management functions to achieve a successful wetland restoration.&#x0D;