Objectives
 

Anthropogenic stress on the higher slopes, in the Northern sectors and around the perimeter area of the Park is well recognised (van Heist 1994). Indeed the Project Elgon ‘96 team from Aberdeen University identified several human use conflicts in Mount Elgon National Park being in need of urgent attention. They stressed particularly that certain areas of the forest and grazing land were under threat from over-use.

Furthermore, recognising the potential importance of tourism as a source of economic development, the Ugandan government has adopted a policy of encouraging tourism activity. To this end it has now initiated major National Park programmes, including the development of visitor facilities within parks to encourage visitors (World Tourism Organisation 1994,). Objectives include the development of tourism in line with conservation objectives and cultural values.

Thus there are many different pressures within the Mount Elgon National Park, emanating from the needs of communities, the needs of the biological and physical resource base, and the needs of tourists (in terms of a commitment to tourism development). Such diverse interests are not easily reconciled, and the recently established Mount Elgon Conservation and Development Project has a difficult job on its hands.

Project Elgon ‘97 represents a continuation of the working relationship established between Makerere University, Kampala, and Aberdeen University, Scotland, and an extension of the research work undertaken by the earlier Project Elgon ‘96 expedition.

The ‘96 team concluded that their small mammal community and avifauna projects could be extended, and that there was a need for research into the role and effects of tourism. With the support of the Mount Elgon National Park, the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Makerere and Aberdeen Universities, the Project Elgon ’97 team was assembled to investigate these areas. Recognising the importance of the Black and White Monkey Colobus guereza to the park’s potential for tourism, a survey of its conservation status was also added to Project Elgon ‘97’s aims. The objectives of Project Elgon ‘97 were thus;

 Continue the working relationship with Makerere University, Kampala, established in 1996, to
    exchange both academic and practical knowledge.

 Establish current trends in the development of tourism in the Mount Elgon National Park, and assess
    their impact on the environmental and socio-economic situation.

 Identify possible ways of overcoming present, and potential human related problems.

 Identify the typeologies of tourists using the reserve, and their motivations and perceptions, since this
    should allow them to be better managed in line with the aims of the Park.

 Take a "sustainable tourism" approach to attempting to reconcile various issues between local people,
    the National Park Authority, Government and the natural resource base.

 Evaluate the potential of diversifying the "tourism product" offered by the National Park, in terms of
    more ecologically benign activities such as hill walking, mountaineering, bird watching or wildlife
    tours.

 Conduct a survey of bird species richness and distribution with reference to different habitat types
    within the area.

 Continue the small mammal survey work conducted by the Project Elgon ‘96 team.

 Climb to the summit of the mountain, Wagagai Peak (4321m).

 Assess the conservation status of the Black and White Monkey Colobus guereza.

 Adopt an open approach to learning from local people, Park staff and between students alike, with the
    aim of creating a two-way learning process between all concerned.
 

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