ABSTRACT
Albertine Rift forests are among the most biologically diverse in the world and host the iconic mountain gorilla. These forests are also the traditional homes of the Batwa people—the original inhabitants of the area and, historically, hunter-foragers. For centuries, agricultural expansion reduced forest cover to small, isolated patches, affecting Batwa communities that depended on them for livelihood. Colonial policies further restricted forest access, while the Ugandan Government’s declaration of three national parks covering the most significant areas of natural resources effectively 239ended access for the Batwa. Today, Bwindi, Mgahinga, and Semliki national parks are managed in ways that restrict access to the forest and its resources. Batwa have been steadily forced to reduce their engagement with and dependence on the forest and now live in great poverty as marginalised farming communities. However, they remain profoundly connected to the forests of their ancestors. Efforts to influence park management to increase access for the Batwa have, to date, had limited success.
