Overview : In Uganda, wetlands provide many important functions to the people, particularly in the context of food and security. This is in addition to its role as a habitat for biodiversity that is also important for the economy. Wetlands also serve as habitats for important flora and fauna, have aesthetic and heritage values, and contain stocks of biodiversity of potentially high pharmaceutical value. Over 80% of the people living adjacent to wetland areas in Uganda directly use wetland resources for their household food security needs.” In addition to supporting food and water security, wetlands support income generation and employment. “Of a total population of 34 million Ugandans, it is estimated that wetlands provide about 320,000 workers with direct employment and provide subsistence employment for over 2.4 million.” In addition, wetland ecosystems play an integral role in maintaining the quality and quantity of water. However, over the last 20 years, excessive sedimentation, high levels of degradation and non-native species invasions have resulted in reduced wetland coverage and deterioration of water quality. Wetland health and resilience can easily be compromised by climate change. Climate change models for Uganda predict that temperatures will continue to increase by between 0.7oC and 1.5oC by 2020 and even further to between 1°C and 3.1°C by 2060. They also predict an increase in annual rainfall of 10-20% during the 21st century, as well as a change in seasonal distribution of rainfall and an increase in the frequency of intense rainfall events.[1] Increases in temperature and erratic rainfall will result in more frequent and intense floods, droughts and heat waves, which will directly threaten wetlands and livelihoods that rely on its healthy ecosystem services. Already, changes in rainfall patterns have led to changes in the hydrological regime, leading to changes in water availability for key areas such as domestic use, watering livestock, and irrigation for agriculture. Uganda is already experiencing the impacts of climate change. Drought in 2008 caused losses of approximately 3% of the value of all food and cash crops in 2010/2011 Uganda lost US$470 m in food crops, cash crops and livestock, 16% of the total annual value of these crops, was lost to drought. The water table in both Eastern and Southwestern wetland basins has experienced and is expected to experience frequent and sudden drops due to Climate change. Livelihood activities in wetlands and catchments (such as fishing and farming, hunting, extraction of reeds) are unsustainable. This is resulting in direct effects on wetlands that are reducing their ability to provide critical services. For example, in Kabale District, within the southwestern wetland basin, 58% of wetlands have been drained for farming and other activities. Communities are searching for land in the wetlands because soils in the catchments are becoming increasingly infertile due to temperature increases and other climatic changes. As a result, the wetland ecosystems have lost their capacity to retain nutrients and store and filter water. This impacts water supply to surrounding communities, which are dependent on water from wells constructed near wetlands. In addition, the ability of these wetlands to adapt to climate change are also compromised, reducing their ability to control floods, store and filter water, and maintain the microclimate. As part of the assessments, a cost of wetlands restoration is to be carried out in all project districts to assess which wetland and catchment restoration opportunities are viable and most appropriate for central government, district local governments, local communities, private sector and individuals to undertake. |