Kampala, 20th May 2021 - Uganda’s wetlands are receiving a boost with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) under a brand new climate adaptation project, which recognizes the value of the wetlands in protecting communities from climate change. In addition to protecting these ecosystems, the project is promoting alternative climate-resilient livelihoods to reduce pressure on nature and biodiversity.
The five-year project has over USD $4.3 million of funding and will be executed by Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment, with support from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
The use of nature-based solutions for adapting to climate change is known as ‘ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA)’.
During the project’s launch event in Kampala on 20 May, the Acting Director of Environment Affairs, Collins Oloya, stated that “wetland and forest ecosystems constitute important natural resources in Uganda. Wetlands alone are estimated to contribute well over US$1 billion per year to national income and over 80% of the population directly use wetland resources for their household food security needs”.
He added that “forest ecosystems… are estimated to annually contribute US$158 million which 5.2% of GDP to the Ugandan economy”.
Moreover, these ecosystems represent an important habitat for both flora and fauna species, and they play an important role in sequestrating carbon; moderating local and regional climate; flood control; purifying water; maintaining water tables, and controlling sediments.
However, wetland degradation reduces the ability of these ecosystems to provide ecological, socio-economic, and cultural services, jeopardizing the livelihoods of the dependent local communities.
Collins Oloya further noted that the people who live in the wetland areas are highly exposed and vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
“This challenges us to think more critically about the innumerable and priceless value of wetlands and forest ecosystems to our economy and why these need to be sustained without compromising their existence.”
The project will improve the livelihoods of communities living within the Rwizi-Lake Mburo-Nakivale, Rwambu-Mpanga, and Enyau wetland systems, as well as within the River Sironko Arua system.
During the inception meeting, the UN Environment Programme representative Charles Sabakera noted that the project is partly addressing key concerns highlighted in the UNEP Adaptation Gap Report 2020, particularly, aspects of adaptation planning, financing, and implementing adaptation actions.
It is hoped that the conservation outcomes and initiatives of the project will be sustained well after the end of the project in 2025.
To learn more about the project, titled ‘Reducing the Climate Change Vulnerability of Local Communities in Uganda through Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA) in Forest and Wetlands Ecosystems’, visit here or contact Jessica@troni@un.org
For more information about UNEP’s work in ecosystem-based adaptation, visit here.
