Collaborative resource management and rural livelihoods around protected areas: A case study of Mount Elgon National Park, Uganda

• We investigated park environmental incomes by participation in collaborative resource management agreements and wealth status
• There were no significant differences in park environmental incomes, which contributed 18% of the annual household income
• Participation in collaborative resource management agreements and distance to the park influence dependence on park environmental incomes
• Collaborative resource management agreement targeting criteria are critical for livelihood outcomes
• Poor targeting criteria which favours conflict free communities amplifies existing inequalities

Collaborative resource management agreements (CRMAs) have been introduced to improve people–park relations and enhance rural livelihoods. Based on household surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and a review of literature we investigated differences in livelihood assets, park dependence and livelihood outcomes for households with and without CRMAs. We investigated the role of park environmental incomes (PEI) in poverty alleviation and factors influencing dependency on PEI. Results revealed significant differences in household assets but no significant differences in park dependence and livelihood outcomes. People report that PEI on average constitute 18% of total incomes. Poor households have a higher dependency on PEI and it reduces income inequality by 13%.CRMAs have a significant positive effect on total PEI but no significant effect on total household income and relative environmental income. In areas with CRMAs, taungya farming and bee keeping practiced as part of the CRMAs increase annual household incomes by 26% and 28% respectively and constitute potential pathways out of poverty. However, the impact of the agreements is still low due to their limited scale and coverage and the targeting criteria which limits access for communities with a high dependency on park resources and high levels of conflict.