Sh65m grant to conserve Mt Elgon
Jul 14, 2007
EQUIPMENT worth sh65m was recently handed over to six districts around Mt Elgon as a way to conserve the ecosystem. George Michael Sikoyo, the chief technical adviser at the World Conservation Union (IUCN), said Mt Elgon’s ecosystem contains diverse fauna (animals) and flora (plants) that need to
By Charles Ariko
EQUIPMENT worth sh65m was recently handed over to six districts around Mt Elgon as a way to conserve the ecosystem. George Michael Sikoyo, the chief technical adviser at the World Conservation Union (IUCN), said Mt Elgon’s ecosystem contains diverse fauna (animals) and flora (plants) that need to be protected.
Sikoyo said the equipment was part of a grant funded by the Norwegian and Swedish governments to Mt Elgon Regional Ecosystem Conservation Programme, a trans-boundary project being implemented under the East African Community.
He said similar measures were being undertaken in Kenya since the mountains’s ecosystem straddles the border.
“The Mt. Elgon ecosystem comprises two national parks, one national reserve, several forest reserves, open areas and other categories of land use.
“Uganda and Kenya are in the process of nominating Mt. Elgon under the Worlds Heritage Convention,†Sikoyo said.
Each of the districts of Mbale, Bududa, Manafwa, Bukwo, Kapchorwa and Sironko received a motorcycle, a digital camera and a computer.
Sikoyo said the equipment was for gathering and processing data from the field that would be used by IUCN, the Ministry of Water and Environment and other stakeholders in conserving the mountain.
While handing over the equipment, Jessica Eriyo, the environment state minister said the high population impacts negatively on the environment. She said it was necessary to improve on the socio-economic well-being of the communities and preserve the ecosystem for generations. She added that there was also need to develop tourism.
Alex Muhwezi, the IUCN representative, said the area being targeted was 2,000 sq km, with 2 million people who depend directly or indirectly on the mountain’s ecosystem.
EQUIPMENT worth sh65m was recently handed over to six districts around Mt Elgon as a way to conserve the ecosystem. George Michael Sikoyo, the chief technical adviser at the World Conservation Union (IUCN), said Mt Elgon’s ecosystem contains diverse fauna (animals) and flora (plants) that need to be protected.
Sikoyo said the equipment was part of a grant funded by the Norwegian and Swedish governments to Mt Elgon Regional Ecosystem Conservation Programme, a trans-boundary project being implemented under the East African Community.
He said similar measures were being undertaken in Kenya since the mountains’s ecosystem straddles the border.
“The Mt. Elgon ecosystem comprises two national parks, one national reserve, several forest reserves, open areas and other categories of land use.
“Uganda and Kenya are in the process of nominating Mt. Elgon under the Worlds Heritage Convention,†Sikoyo said.
Each of the districts of Mbale, Bududa, Manafwa, Bukwo, Kapchorwa and Sironko received a motorcycle, a digital camera and a computer.
Sikoyo said the equipment was for gathering and processing data from the field that would be used by IUCN, the Ministry of Water and Environment and other stakeholders in conserving the mountain.
While handing over the equipment, Jessica Eriyo, the environment state minister said the high population impacts negatively on the environment. She said it was necessary to improve on the socio-economic well-being of the communities and preserve the ecosystem for generations. She added that there was also need to develop tourism.
Alex Muhwezi, the IUCN representative, said the area being targeted was 2,000 sq km, with 2 million people who depend directly or indirectly on the mountain’s ecosystem.