Livelihood Strategies and the Conservation of Shea Butter Tree Case Study: Lira Palwo Sub County, Agago District

Abstract

This study sought to examine the influence of livelihood strategies towards the conservation of Shea butter tree in Lira Palwo, Agago District. The influence of the changes in livelihood strategies seemed to have a big impact on the conservation of Shea Butter Trees. This trend left one wondering how the transformed livelihood strategy among the population has affected sustainable utilization of SBT. The objectives included; to find out the influence of existing structures and processes in transforming vulnerability context of communities into sustainable livelihood strategies, the different roles played by actors in influencing communities to select the livelihood strategies and the conservation outcomes of Shea butter trees resulting from the different livelihood strategies transformed from the vulnerability context in Lira Palwo Sub County.

This research study used several methods to deal with the research problem. Across sectional qualitative approach was used in this study. In this study qualitative approach involved the use and collection of a variety of empirical materials by in-depth interview and focus group discussions. In order to explore the research questions and to elicit in-depth information on the livelihood strategies towards the conservation of Shea butter trees, this study was informed by primary and secondary sources. This study collected primary data and secondary sources data using methodological/tools of interviews, observations and documentary analysis. Approaches to the presentation and analysis of data were also discussed. Ethical issues relating to this study were presented and discussed.

The conservation of natural resources was a contribution of every stakeholder in the community including the cultural leaders, the government and the community at large, but due to the high rate of urbanization, commercialization of agriculture, education and cultural integrations, as well as political differences, the culture of togetherness has died, hence affecting the survival of Shea butter and other natural resources in the area. Government, traders, agricultural extension workers, environmentalist and forestry regulatory authorities, were cited not to play their role in the conservation of Shea butter. Using the findings, the study recommends the need to support the community to develop consensus on the required natural resources to be left alive even if it’s a personal property to survive the natural resources.

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