April & August. 1999 
27 
• To assess existing initiatives and to agree on common 
priority needs in terms of biodiversity conservation 
in support of Albertine Rift montane forests in the 
region; 
• To promote linkages and collaboration between 
NGOs and governmental institutions throughout the 
region, in support of local initiatives on the 
conservation and sustainable use of Albertine Rift 
montane forests; 
• To set up a mechanism for improved exchange and 
collaboration in the joint implementation of 
conservation activities, joint fundraising for small 
grants to support community- based initiatives and 
micro-projects 
Participants 
The workshop involved representatives of key 
conservation institutions (NGOs. governments, 
universities. Wildlife Clubs) from each country of the 
region and regional and international organisations 
operating in the region. It was attended by over 40 
participants including one delegate from Burundi, eight 
delegates from Democratic Republic Congo, three 
delegates from Rwanda, one delegate from 'Rinzania. 
20 delegates from Uganda, and eight delegates from 
regional and international organisations with interests 
in the Albertine Rift. Every participant presented a 
paper to share experiences with others, as this was one 
of the objectives of the workshop. 
Guests of Honour: 
Hon. Baguma isoke. Minister of State for Lands. NNhtcr 
and Environment who was the Guest of Honour, opened 
the workshop He emphasised the importance of cross- 
border co-operation in biodiversity conservation and 
welcomed the regional initiative promoted by ARCOS 
Other guests at the opening of the workshop included 
Mr Mafa Chepata. FAO Representative in Uganda. 
Engineer Charles Dra/u from The Royal Dutch Embassy 
m Kampala and Mr Isaac Kapalaga from Grants 
Management Unit of Action Programme for 
Environment. USAID. 
Workshop conclusions and 
recommendations 
The Workshop reviewed current regional and 
international initiatives as well as national initiatives 
including specific selected site based conservation case 
studies. It also carried out an analysis of the current 
conservation status of the Albertine Rift montane forests; 
identification of problems, constraints, opportunities and 
ihrcats. identification of potential responses and actions, 
identification and prioritisation of proposed follow up 
actions; and formulation and adoption of final 
recommendations. 
The workshop also established a reporting and follow- 
up mechanism which includes preparation of a report 
on the status of conservation initiatives, priority needs 
and priority actions for montane forest conservation in 
the Albertine Rift; and dissemination to a wide range 
of users in the region and outside the region through 
the ARCOS Regional Newsletter (‘Backbone’); and 
development of activities to support the mechanism 
established and community-based initiatives in the 
region respectively 
The following issues were identified by the 
workshop as major issues affecting conservation of 
Albertine Rift montane forests: 
• Limited knowledge or. the status of the Albertine 
Rift montane forests 
• Need to promote regional networking, information 
sharing and awareness raising 
• Need to promote capacity building and training 
• Need to integrate the Albertine Rift montane forests 
in national policies, planning and strategies 
• Need for effective funding and fundraising 
mechanism 
• Need to integrate local communities in the Albertine 
Rift moniane forest conservation 
• Need to improve sustainable management of the 
Albertine Rift moniane forests (site and system level) 
Finally, the workshop developed a number of 
recommendations, some of them reported below 
• The workshop recommended that appropriate 
monitoring programmes be developed, that 
additional information to fill gaps be collected to 
achieve proper understanding of die Albertine Rift 
montane forests, and information on the biodiversity, 
conservation and management status of the Albertine 
Rift montane forests be made available 
• The workshop strongly recommended that ARCOS 
be a vehicle for information acquisition, exchange 
between countries and within the region and outside 
the region, and that an information officer be 
appointed 
The workshop recommended that a regional 
information centre be established by ARCOS io serve 
for all stakeholders in the region and cover both 
training and networking 
The workshop strongly recommended that ARCOS 
should provide regional co-ordination for ihc 
preparation and submission of rational and regional 
funding proposals to funding agencies, and thai a 
fund-raising officer should be appointed by ARCOS 
The workshop encouraged governments and/or 
NGOs and donors to explore appropriate actions to 
ensure minimum maintenance of biodiversity 
conservation and protection in the Albertine Rift, 
particularly in critical hotspot areas and those 
affected by conflicts. 
The workshop recommended that experiences and 
lessons learned in community involvement in the 
region be reviewed and provided to those involved 
in community participation 
The workshop recommended that specific actions 
