Implementing a landscape approach in the Agoro‐Agu region of Uganda

Abstract

Landscape approaches are intended to resolve conflicts and address land and resource scarcity and competition. Often guided by 10 principles, numerous examples exist in the field but remain poorly documented. As a result, it remains difficult to learn about their implementation. This paper provides an example of the implementation of a landscape approach in a protected area landscape. We ask: How were landscape approach principles used in the implementation? What were the challenges and opportunities of using the landscape approach? We focus on the Agoro-Agu Landscape in the East Acholi area of Uganda. We find that some principles were critical for guiding the process, while others were outcomes of the landscape approach. Challenges included inadequate data, difficulties in addressing multiple planning units, limited resources to implement multi-stakeholder workshops, and politicisation of some issues. Opportunities included the mainstreaming of agreed actions into strategies and plans, increased resident capacity, conflict resolution, and clarified roles and responsibilities. Based on this example, landscape approaches may be used in future governmental projects.