Patrick Omeja, Joseph Obua and Anthony B. Cunningham 179CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This study has shown that there is a combination of diminishing raw material
supply, increased demand of finished product and almost complete policy
neglect of wood carving in Uganda. Existing policy emphasises that a balance
be created between using the environment for economic development and
conserving it for future generations. Lacking other information one can only
assume that this is the policy to follow. However, at the moment these two
factors, viz. economic development and conservation, are largely pulling in
different directions. Drum makers are trying to maximise use values without
looking at sustainability, while forest resource managers are concentrating on
conservation without fulfilling the policy that forest resources should be used
for sustainable economic development.
It has also become clear from a narrow economic viewpoint that providing
assistance to preserve and encourage the drum making industry may be
unsound. However, from a broader economic perspective that includes cultural
values, cultural preservation is desirable and subsidies that help promote carved
wooden drums would be perfectly legitimate. In addition, it shows that some
of the changes taking place are tending to limit the ability of the poor to
exploit the opportunities available from drum making activity. Carvers posses
the skills and technology to benefit from the opportunities presented by the
market, but depend mainly on traders and other intermediaries for access to
export markets. Thus the benefits and sometimes control end up in the hands
of outsiders.
In this case, a more extensive campaign is needed to ensure that drum
makers are fully aware of their responsibilities related to resource use and
the effects of improper and proper utilisation. More opportunity is needed for
drum makers to discuss and make decisions on issues concerning their own
livelihoods. Drum makers and other resource users should be mobilised and
helped to form the appropriate bodies (e.g., community institutions) to manage
the craft sector’s natural resources pro-actively. Craft development
organisations and interested and capable marketing enterprises should be
assisted to work alongside the drum makers in forest management.
The government of Uganda should look into ways of reducing the cost of
producing and marketing carved wooden drums. This most crucial aspect can
be addressed through support and subsidy measures. Since the drum making
industry is economically viable, subsidies are justifiable to ensure that financial
incentives continue to exist for producers and marketers. By subsidising certain
aspects of the drum making industry, greater proportions of income remain in
the hands of producers, their families and communities. In this way, more
benefits accrue to the local people. Areas that can be most easily subsidised
include transport (product collection and purchasing, and raw material
collection and marketing), design and skill upgrading and various other
marketing costs such as production of informational and promotional materials.
Reduction of transport costs should be considered because certain high quality
drums made in rural areas lose their comparative advantages because of the
high cost of transportation to the market.10woodcarving.p65 179 22/12/2004, 11:05