The Minister of Water and Environment, Samuel Cheptoris, has called for concerted efforts towards the conservation and restoration of degraded wetlands in the country.
Cheptoris said this ahead of World Wetlands Day. Under the theme; “Wetlands and Human Well-Being,” the day will mark February 2, 2024, at Kaunda Grounds, Gulu City.
Government of Uganda has made timely, concerted efforts over the last 30 years at various national levels to ensure the conservation and wise use of wetland resources. Between 1994 and 2015, at least 6,146.6 square kilometers of wetlands were lost or 2.5% of Uganda’s total coverage of wetlands.
Despite the numerous benefits that humans receive from wetlands and concerted efforts by the government to conserve wetlands, every day wetlands are damaged by human beings. Wetlands are being destroyed by unsustainable agricultural practices, which are a primary cause of wetland loss through drainage and infilling.
Communities, particularly those living near wetlands, are highly dependent on these services and are directly harmed by their degradation. Healthy wetlands equate to our wellbeing.
“The government has taken further decisions to scale up actions on wetland conservation that include, but are not limited to, the cancellation of wetland titles, the restoration of degraded wetlands, the strengthening of compliance monitoring and enforcement, and the provision of alternative livelihoods to wetland users to bring the process of wetland conversion under control,” the minister said.
“Make conscious choices to stop polluting wetlands for the multiple benefits and nature-based solutions they provide for human well-being and a healthy planet,” he said.
“Wetlands and people are ‘life interlaced’. Wetlands are central to our wellbeing. Wetlands deliver a wide range of ecosystem services that contribute to human well-being, such as fish, water supply, water purification, climate regulation, flood regulation, recreational opportunities, and increasingly tourism,” he said.
