Environment question in Uganda: Mathematical equation for cocksure conservation of biodiversity

Aug 12, 2022

Mutumba says the lack of rain could be tackled through aerial irrigation using an aircraft.

Prof Gerald Mutumba

Prof Gerald Mutumba
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BLOGS | ENVIRONMENT | MUTUMBA 

Sadly, the most negative factor in biodiversity management in Uganda is that most decision-makers, especially those making critical decisions are tabula rasa (Latin: empty slate, i.e. empty mind) regarding the roles and nature of biodiversity, ramifications let alone the technical issues due to inadequate learning during the formal education process.

This is due to the fact that not all students study science at a higher school certificate level in Uganda and consequently some of these tabula rasa graduates become the most important decision-makers of today and even in tomorrow’s decision processes regarding natural resources and science applications.

In the US, which is currently the greatest economic power on earth, it is the applications of principles of technology and science which have been the greatest drivers of American civilisation, economic prosperity and military power. 

In the American school system, there is no dichotomy of having science students on one hand and arts students on the other at the university entrance stage (Higher School Certificate-HSC).

It should be realised that the students’ (children) brains are just growing and hence the science potential cannot be determined at this stage (Senior 5 and Senior 6). 

Besides, there are underperforming teachers of science; lack of equipment and textbooks; nutrition at school; the home and social environment other factors being equal, the Maasai being a case in point.

This same scenario also exists at the O’level stage. Therefore, it is reasonable to propose that this categorisation between science and arts students is a misnomer and cannot be followed for selection of students for admission to universities. 

Instead, as far as the science need for the country is concerned, the pedagogically requisite set-up should be for students after O’level to continue studying both science and arts subjects at HSC level after the O’level examination. 

That is, they continue with the A’level curriculum for two years (S5 and S6). Recess terms could be instituted in order to complete syllabi. 

This could become the new normal for the secondary higher education system in the East African region.

All students should sit for the final examinations in both arts and science subjects. 

Then on the basis of the students’ performance in both disciplines, the students should get admitted to the university based on the relevant grade point average in the sciences and arts subjects. 

This will enable a large number of young Ugandans to be exposed to science.

Then at university, the relevant selections can be made based on the students’ performance either for science degree programme such as medicine, engineering etc or the arts degree programme.

Then the universities should institute a minor course in biodiversity sciences for four semesters for all university students or up to the second year of study. If this is accepted, then the East African countries should boast of a science-literate population whose members, if appointed to posts requiring requisite knowledge of biodiversity, will be able to make the right decisions.

It is very important to make appropriate scientific decisions as far as the conservation of natural resources and protection of our environment is concerned. 

Climate change as witnessed by global warming indicators is on our doorstep. 

The equilibrium between the heavens and our earth environment has been disrupted due to ignorance and greed which leads to cutting trees for a quick profit. 

It appears that there exist forest mafias who cut the forest and burn charcoal for internal and external marketing. 

Much as forests and wetlands appear to be full of trees, vegetation, small mammals, water, sand, birds and snakes, fruits, medicinal plants, abundance of insects, etc they play a critical role in maintaining the climate balance.

Forest areas like the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest are critical conservation areas for the endangered gorillas, a very important tourist attraction generating foreign currency for Uganda. 

Unfortunately, due to poor management and lack of protection mechanisms the rain regime has changed. 

The lack of rain could be tackled through aerial irrigation using an aircraft. Just as an aircraft is used to spray locusts, it can be used to carry out aerial irrigation. 

This will sustain the forest vegetation and the food for the gorillas.

In addition, aerial irrigation could be used to irrigate the drier areas of the national parks like Queen Elizabeth National Park and others (Hopefully the proposed oil refinery will produce aircraft fuel.)

Likewise, biotechnology also should be invoked in the conservation of biodiversity. 

The plants which the gorillas prefer can be beefed up through propagation of the species. 

The plant populations on which the gorillas depend for food have dwindled and probably that is why the population number is not increasing appreciably. 

There is need, therefore, to identify these plants which gorillas like. Once this is done then they can be multiplied through tissue culture (Namanya P., Magambo, M. J., Mutumba ,G., and Tushemereirwe, W.,2004 Somatic Embryogenesis from immature male inflorescences of the East African highland bananas CV, Nakyetengu, African Crop Science Journal 12 (1),43-49).

Similarly, elephant action on trees in the game parks can be dealt with in the same manner as pointed out in the foregoing.

This can be carried out by identifying the trees where they exist and then multiplying them using tissue culture technology (0.1mm section of a vegetative part can produce up to one million seedlings in a year!) Such is the power of plant biotechnology which can be applied to provide more food for animals in the wild.

Similarly, the wetland vegetation should not be comprised of anyway. The wetlands store (sequestrate) four times the amount of carbon when compared to the terrestrial vegetation (4:1 ). 

As President Yoweri Museveni said recently, wetlands are to be preserved for eternity as they control the water quality and quantity.

There should not be any backtracking on this presidential directive. The wetlands should remain virgin so that a thousand years later, our descendants will say that this was our finest hour in conservation. Activities like fish farming will introduce poisons and will disrupt the aquatic balance.

If the wetland vegetation is removed, evapotranspiration will increase uncontrollably and this will increase global warming through uncontrolled water vapour from the open soils without the vegetation. 

However, human activities can go on within a radius of 100 metres from a wetland. This is where fishing farming should be situated.

Wetlands should become the major focal areas for research in the biological sciences in the universities to carry out documentation of all plants and animals.  

Then the question arises: How should conservation be carried out at the grassroots?   

Conservation efforts and the pertinent information dissemination should be coordinated at the district level whereby the environmental officers are posted and facilitated to liaise with each LCs. 

They should work through the LC structures up to LC1 throughout Uganda. The point of entry can be liaising with the landlords to plant woodlots for firewood. 

This should be spearheaded by the environment officer in every district of Uganda. 

This can also be done in association with the science faculties of the state universities who should identify source of seeds and cuttings like those of the bark trees for organic fencing.

Fruit trees like jackfruits, avocadoes guavas, etc should also be planted. In each LC and along the walkways and roads or highways there is space outside the road reserve for utilization. 

Besides early maturing species like Brussonertia(L) and Cassia spectabilis ( L) and others can be candidates for planting. There should be general mobilization of residents like the OMUKANDA of Rwanda. 

In Rwanda, it was agreed since 1994 that residents of a given village unit throughout the country come together on a specified day and time to clean up their residential areas.

There should be a ban on the hunting of wildlife in the villages. Goat farming, rabbit farming, and chicken raring should be enforced in order to protect the wildlife that is remaining in the villages.

Let us imitate the American conservation efforts, whereby bears and deers roam freely in the estates in some states like Colorado.

Finally, there is need to decentralise information by creating district libraries as focal points for information access on Agriculture, Industry, Services and ICT which are the key sectors for money generation in the Uganda economy. 

The daily newspapers abound in a lot of information on biodiversity and conservation. Books like Useful trees and Shrubs by Katende Etal, and other published information should be deposited in this facility for easy and quick access by the public. 

Copies of literary works like the MUSTARD should be deposited here as well.

The writer is an academician 

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