Nabugabo declared Ramsar wetland
May 24, 2004
LAKE Nabugabo has been declared a Ramsar site. The lake has been added to the Ramsar list because of its international ecological, biological and zoological importance.
By John Kasozi
LAKE Nabugabo has been declared a Ramsar site. The lake has been added to the Ramsar list because of its international ecological, biological and zoological importance.
A Ramsar site is a wetland elevated to international conservation status. Situated in Masaka district, the wetland system consists of shallow freshwater with maximum depth of five metres and about 8.2km long by 5km wide and three smaller satellite lakes including Kayugi, Manywa and Kayanja.
Lake Nabugabo is separated from Lake Victoria by a sand bar. It was formed as a result of sand dunes resulting from strong winds. The lake is 32 sq.km and is surrounded by a loudetia swamp, especially to the north and has miscanthidium papyrus and sphagnum swamps. Along the northwestern shore, there is a forest, while on the eastern windward side are sandy beaches.
According to the abstract at the Nabugabo Scientific Conference in January 2002, studies have been taken by Fisheries Resources Research Institute on the Nabugabo lakes since the early 1990s, to identify the fish species present. Scientists data findings have been integrated into this new Ramsar site.
Almost 300 plant species have been recorded. This is fairly a high number of species for its size and some of the species require global protection. The data has been useful in fulfilling international objectives of managing the site.
Lake Nabugabo catchment area has two flowering plants not found elsewhere, and 14 species in Uganda are known only in the area. The most striking character of the rare Nabugabo plants is the relative dominance of carnivorous plants and members of the family Xyridaceae.
The fauna ecosystem consists of a wide variety of key animal communities’ hippopotamus and sitatunga. While birds like kingfishers, crested crane and some important migratory birds can be sighted.
A Ramsar site is important because it improves livelihoods and protectsthe endemic and endangered species. It involves the hands-on management of a resource for the benefit of the world. Burning of wetland vegetation coupled with overfishing threatens the long-term viability of Lake Nabugabo.
Recent research findings on the lake show that native fish, the tilapia species, especially Oreochromis esculentus (black), Oreochromis variabilis (brown) and Bagrus docmac (Semutundu) have disappeared. Lake Nabugabo stocks supported commercial fisheries till 1960s when the reserves were depleted.
Dr. Henry Busuulwa Ssebuliba, the wetlands inspection division technical adviser, says fisheries is now dominated by the introduced species Lates niloticus (Mputa) and Oreochomis niloticus (red tilapia).
“Experimental fishing indicated the presence of native Cyprinid Rastrineobola Argentea (Mukono). Unlike in other lakes, this specie is not commercially exploited.†Other threat to the lake’s natural resources include eutrophication, pollution and the proliferation of invasive sea weeds plants such as vossia (hippo grass) and water hyacinth.
Pollution on-site, siltation and sedimentation from the hills is the result of increasing human activities like farming and entertainment at various beach sites.
There is also declining fish production, species and habitat loss.
Changes in the water system may greatly affect the dynamics in the aquatic ecosystem.
Ends
LAKE Nabugabo has been declared a Ramsar site. The lake has been added to the Ramsar list because of its international ecological, biological and zoological importance.
A Ramsar site is a wetland elevated to international conservation status. Situated in Masaka district, the wetland system consists of shallow freshwater with maximum depth of five metres and about 8.2km long by 5km wide and three smaller satellite lakes including Kayugi, Manywa and Kayanja.
Lake Nabugabo is separated from Lake Victoria by a sand bar. It was formed as a result of sand dunes resulting from strong winds. The lake is 32 sq.km and is surrounded by a loudetia swamp, especially to the north and has miscanthidium papyrus and sphagnum swamps. Along the northwestern shore, there is a forest, while on the eastern windward side are sandy beaches.
According to the abstract at the Nabugabo Scientific Conference in January 2002, studies have been taken by Fisheries Resources Research Institute on the Nabugabo lakes since the early 1990s, to identify the fish species present. Scientists data findings have been integrated into this new Ramsar site.
Almost 300 plant species have been recorded. This is fairly a high number of species for its size and some of the species require global protection. The data has been useful in fulfilling international objectives of managing the site.
Lake Nabugabo catchment area has two flowering plants not found elsewhere, and 14 species in Uganda are known only in the area. The most striking character of the rare Nabugabo plants is the relative dominance of carnivorous plants and members of the family Xyridaceae.
The fauna ecosystem consists of a wide variety of key animal communities’ hippopotamus and sitatunga. While birds like kingfishers, crested crane and some important migratory birds can be sighted.
A Ramsar site is important because it improves livelihoods and protectsthe endemic and endangered species. It involves the hands-on management of a resource for the benefit of the world. Burning of wetland vegetation coupled with overfishing threatens the long-term viability of Lake Nabugabo.
Recent research findings on the lake show that native fish, the tilapia species, especially Oreochromis esculentus (black), Oreochromis variabilis (brown) and Bagrus docmac (Semutundu) have disappeared. Lake Nabugabo stocks supported commercial fisheries till 1960s when the reserves were depleted.
Dr. Henry Busuulwa Ssebuliba, the wetlands inspection division technical adviser, says fisheries is now dominated by the introduced species Lates niloticus (Mputa) and Oreochomis niloticus (red tilapia).
“Experimental fishing indicated the presence of native Cyprinid Rastrineobola Argentea (Mukono). Unlike in other lakes, this specie is not commercially exploited.†Other threat to the lake’s natural resources include eutrophication, pollution and the proliferation of invasive sea weeds plants such as vossia (hippo grass) and water hyacinth.
Pollution on-site, siltation and sedimentation from the hills is the result of increasing human activities like farming and entertainment at various beach sites.
There is also declining fish production, species and habitat loss.
Changes in the water system may greatly affect the dynamics in the aquatic ecosystem.
Ends