The Mt. Elgon Conservation and Development Project Phase III commenced in July 1996, following on from two previous phases, Phase I from 1988 to 1990 and Phase II from 1990 to 1994, and a transition phase from 1994 to July 1996. The project was developed in response to threats to the Mt Elgon ecosystem through agricultural encroachment and illegal resource exploitation resulting from a wide range of factors including political instability in the 1970’s and 80’s, lack of financial resources in the Forestry Department, insecurity of the population due to cattle raiding, population expansion in the area, declining land productivity and various other socio-economic factors.
The goal of the Project is to safeguard the Mt. Elgon ecosystem for the benefit of present and future generations. The Project is implemented by the Ministry of Water, Land and Environment in collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the District Administrations of Mbale and Kapchorwa Districts. Technical assistance and backstopping is provided by IUCN - The World Conservation Union. Funding is provided by the Royal Norwegian Government.
