Perceived Benefits and Challenges of Grassroots Involvement in Forest Resource Management at Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve

Grassroots involvement in forest resource management is widely recognised as essential for ensuring sustainability, accountability, and equitable benefit sharing. This study focused on Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve (KCFR) in Uganda. The main aim of this paper is to uncover the perceived benefits and challenges of grassroots involvement in forest resource management at KCFR. The research adopted a qualitative cross-sectional case study design guided by narrative inquiry. Data was collected from 27 respondents, including community members, leaders, and National Forestry Authority (NFA) officials. The study revealed the main benefits as alternative livelihoods (beekeeping and ecotourism), strengthened community ownership (Mindset change), enhanced biodiversity conservation, and greater social equity yet significantly constrained by challenges such as unequal access to benefits, weak institutional support, communication gaps, poverty-driven resource pressure, human-wildlife conflicts, and bureaucratic inefficiencies.

Grassroots, Forest Resources, Forest Resource Management, Collaborative Forest Resource Management, Central Forest Reserve

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