Let us renew our commitment to protecting Uganda’s biodiversity

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OPINION

By Mercy Nuwamanya

Editor, every May 22, each year, we celebrate International Day of Biodiversity, which is aimed at increasing understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. Celebrated under the theme ‘harmony with nature and sustainable development’, this theme focuses on the world’s attention on linkages between the 2030 agenda and its sustainable development goals and targets.

As we commemorate the International Day for Biological Diversity this year, it is imperative to reflect on the state of our natural world and the pressing need for targeted and concerted action to combat biodiversity loss.

Uganda, with its diverse ecosystems and prolific biodiversity, stands at a critical time in this global fight. Biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, is fundamental to human wellbeing. From providing food, medicine and energy sources, to regulating climate and supporting ecosystems, Biodiversity underpins the very fabric of our existence. The annual commemoration of this day on May 22, thus, serves as a clarion call to action for all stakeholders to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity by supporting the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, commonly known as the ‘Biodiversity Plan’. 

Current data from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) shows that Uganda is endowed, to a superlative tune, with diverse animal and plant species. Uganda boasts 18,783 recorded species of fauna and flora and ranks among the top 10 most biodiverse countries in Africa. Uganda is host to 53.9 per cent of the World’s population of mountain gorillas, 11 per cent (1,063 species) of the world’s recorded species of birds (50 per cent of Africa’s bird species), 7.8 per cent (345 species) of the global mammal diversity (39 per cent of Africa’s mammal richness), 19 per cent (86 species) of Africa’s amphibian species richness and 14 per cent (142 species).

According to the Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda loses biodiversity between 10 and 11 per cent every decade. This biodiversity loss has and continues to manifest in the declining species abundance, largely due to over-exploitation of biological resources, including trees and woody biomass, largely attributed to unsustainable use of biodiversity resources, shrinking habitats, especially wetlands and forests, largely due to conversion of habitats into human settlements and other commercial land uses.

Additional concerns include the pushing of many local species to the brink of extinction, invasive species, human-wildlife conflicts, encroachment on protected areas, agricultural expansion, climate change and variability, illegal wildlife trade, and pollution. There are also socio-economic pressures in the country, including human population increase, gender inequality and poverty. 

However, amidst all these challenges, there is hope. In recent years, there has been remarkable traction and progress related to environmental monitoring, oversight of reporting procedures, transparency in government agencies, measures to combat corruption and to increase the effectiveness of environmental conservation and natural resource management mechanisms and cognate advocacy on environmental issues by a robust network of local and international organizations, working on revenue-sharing, empowerment of local communities, governance, awareness creation and environmental education.

As we celebrate this day therefore, we need to accelerate the restoration of degraded ecosystems, especially wetlands and forests, curb illegal wildlife trade, build capacity for effective implementation of the access and benefit-sharing arrangements, manage pollution and invasive alien species, invest in research, mainstream biodiversity into sectoral, cross-sectoral and district development plans, enhance participation of indigenous peoples and local communities, especially women and youth in the implementation of biodiversity programs, build capacity of local governments for effective implementation at the district level, adopt robust regulatory frameworks and create public awareness on biotechnology and biosafety and also embark on innovative resource mobilization for implementing our local and global biodiversity conservation and restoration targets.

Let us renew our commitment to protecting Uganda’s lush biodiversity. Whether through supporting conservation initiatives, advocating for policy reform, or making sustainable green choices in our daily lives, each of us certainly has a role to play in preserving our natural heritage!

nuwamanyamercy94@gmail.com