Uncertain future ahead as wetland destruction speeds global warming

The commissioner for wetlands, Mr Paul Mafabi, said the wetland catchment area around Lake Victoria had shrunk by more than half in less than 20 years from 7,167.6sq km in 1994 to 3, 310 squares in 2008 while Lake Kyoga’s reduced from 15,008.3sq km in 1994 to 11,028.5sq km in 2008.

Kampala
Environmentalists have raised an alarm over the rapid destruction of wetlands and warned of dire consequences if immediate action is not taken to arrest the situation.

Particular concern has been raised over rapid depletion of the eco-system around Lakes Victoria and Kyoga which have lost a significant portion of the wetlands around them that act at natural purifiers and breeding ground for fish.
Nationwide, wetland cover has drastically reduced from about 37,575 square kilometers in 1994 to 26,308 square kilometers in 2008 representing a loss of about 25 per cent of the total wetland coverage.

The concerns were raised on Tuesday during events to mark World Wetland Day in Luzira, Kampala.

Why degradation
The commissioner for wetlands, Mr Paul Mafabi, said the wetland catchment area around Lake Victoria had shrunk by more than half in less than 20 years from 7,167.6sq km in 1994 to 3, 310 squares in 2008 while Lake Kyoga’s reduced from 15,008.3sq km in 1994 to 11,028.5sq km in 2008.

Mr Mafabi attributed the cause of degradation to the rapid urbanisation citing the increased production of rice, impunity and disregard of the law.

“If nothing is done about the way wetlands are destroyed, the country will face climate change the hard way very soon,” he warned.

Celebrations to mark Wetlands Day were held worldwide under the theme: “Biodiversity and Climate change”.
The day was aimed at creating awareness of the urgency and appeal for prompt action to avert the ‘catastrophe that could be fall Uganda.

Dr Byarimanya Mugisha, the Executive Director National Environmental Authority yesterday said internationally, the country is doing well in protecting wetlands but locally, the destruction is worrying.

Covering just six per cent of earth’s land surface, wetlands (including marshes, peat bogs, swamps, river deltas, mangroves, tundra, lagoons and river floodplains) store 10-20 per cent of its terrestrial carbon.

Wetlands slow the decay of organic material trapped and locked away over the ages in low oxygen conditions.

Evicting encroachers
Water and Environment Minister Maria Mutagamba directed all the people occupying wetlands to vacate them by February 28 or face legal action and forceful eviction.

She particularly warned encroachers in Nakivubo channel, Kinawataka, Lubiji, Kyetinda, Nyanama and Nalukolongo in Kampala and Wakiso districts.

The minister said they would enhance awareness and increase the participation of local communities in wetland management, demarcate boundaries and gazette wetlands as well as ensuring that investment and development activities strictly to comply with environment requirements.