Rakai to jealously guard Misambwa birds
Jun 17, 2007
IN an unprecedented move, Rakai district has approved Sango Bay-Misambwa twin islands ordinance to protect birds and their breeding places from destruction by the fishing communities.
By John Kasozi
IN an unprecedented move, Rakai district has approved Sango Bay-Misambwa twin islands ordinance to protect birds and their breeding places from destruction by the fishing communities.
The objective of the ordinance is to make the district a tourist destination.
“The ordinance/bylaws will also regulate other human activities on the islands for environment sustainability,†said Jamil Kiyingi, the district wetlands officer.
He said sustainability at district levels cannot be achieved effectively without implementing ordinances.â€
Kiyingi said through the Ministry of Local Government, the district council forwarded the environment ordinance to the attorney general for approval. “As it awaits Parliament approval, the district has already implemented it,†explained Kiyingi.
According to the State of Environment Report for Uganda 2002, both the National Environment Statute 1995 and the Local Governments Act 1997 provide for the devolution of environmental management activities at the districts and the lower level local governments.
In September 2006, Sango Bay-Misambwa Islands wetlands covering 6,053hectares, on the shores of Lake Victoria, was designated as a Ramsar Convention site, bringing the total of Ramsar sites in the country to 11.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
There are presently 154 contracting parties to the Convention, with 1674 wetland sites, totalling 150 million hectares, designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
The Misambwa Islands are considered an important bird sanctuary with an exceptional biodiversity supporting among others internationally significant numbers of four congregations of breeding bird species.
The islands are known to have the largest breeding colony for the Grey-headed Gulls in Africa and 75% of the total global population of the Blue Swallow, Egyptian Goose, Little Egret, Long Tailed Cormorant and Greater Cormorant.
Unique reptiles like snakes and lizards are also found on these islands which are covered with forest mosaic containing 30 endemic floras, restricted subspecies of primates, Elephants and Sitatungas.
“Misambwa Islands project that started in October 2000 aims at conserving biodiversity,†says Frederick Kiwazi, the central and southern regional wetlands officer.
The Ramsar Convention provides for general obligations for contracting relating to the conservation of Wetlands.
IN an unprecedented move, Rakai district has approved Sango Bay-Misambwa twin islands ordinance to protect birds and their breeding places from destruction by the fishing communities.
The objective of the ordinance is to make the district a tourist destination.
“The ordinance/bylaws will also regulate other human activities on the islands for environment sustainability,†said Jamil Kiyingi, the district wetlands officer.
He said sustainability at district levels cannot be achieved effectively without implementing ordinances.â€
Kiyingi said through the Ministry of Local Government, the district council forwarded the environment ordinance to the attorney general for approval. “As it awaits Parliament approval, the district has already implemented it,†explained Kiyingi.
According to the State of Environment Report for Uganda 2002, both the National Environment Statute 1995 and the Local Governments Act 1997 provide for the devolution of environmental management activities at the districts and the lower level local governments.
In September 2006, Sango Bay-Misambwa Islands wetlands covering 6,053hectares, on the shores of Lake Victoria, was designated as a Ramsar Convention site, bringing the total of Ramsar sites in the country to 11.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
There are presently 154 contracting parties to the Convention, with 1674 wetland sites, totalling 150 million hectares, designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
The Misambwa Islands are considered an important bird sanctuary with an exceptional biodiversity supporting among others internationally significant numbers of four congregations of breeding bird species.
The islands are known to have the largest breeding colony for the Grey-headed Gulls in Africa and 75% of the total global population of the Blue Swallow, Egyptian Goose, Little Egret, Long Tailed Cormorant and Greater Cormorant.
Unique reptiles like snakes and lizards are also found on these islands which are covered with forest mosaic containing 30 endemic floras, restricted subspecies of primates, Elephants and Sitatungas.
“Misambwa Islands project that started in October 2000 aims at conserving biodiversity,†says Frederick Kiwazi, the central and southern regional wetlands officer.
The Ramsar Convention provides for general obligations for contracting relating to the conservation of Wetlands.