Soil and Nutrient Losses and the Role of Gender in Land Degradation in Southwestern Uganda

Navigating through Complexity by Profiling the Main Threats to Sustainable Tropical Wetlands Management and Governance: A Case Study of Mityana District, Uganda

“…This review confirms field findings as most respondents for instance, in Kikandwa and Kalangaalo reported that, most Lake Wamala wetlands are linked to the broader Lake Wamala radial drainage where rivers and wetlands lead to Katonga wetlands and finally drain into the Lake Victoria basin; implying that Lake Wamala wetland system is connected to the Lake Victoria basin zone [27]. Other permanent wetlands zones are found in the Lake Bunyonyi catchment area in Kabale, in South Western Uganda [49] including the Kashambya wetland complex [12], Rushebeya-Kanyabaha wetland [50] and Nyarungu permanent papyrus swamps [51] and the Rwizi-Rufuha wetland system from Bushenyi and parts of Ntungamo districts, through Mbarara and Lake Mburo before entering Lake Victoria [52].…”

“…Of increasing concern, as reported in the field study findings is the proliferation of commercialized eucalyptus and pine tree planting in both wetland riparian and within wetland zones such as along Rhino camp [30], along River Mpologoma wetlands [45] and along the Lake Bunyonyi wetland catchment zone; where eucalyptus trees led to a loss of fertile wetland soils (reported at 78 kg ha − 1 year − 1) and loss of water [49]. According to the 2019 NEMA report, commercial eucalyptus tree farming is a new driver to wetland loss and currently represents 0.9% of the degraded wetland area such as along the Namavundu wetland zone.…”

“…This among others envisions increased research on the tolerance of indigenous species to environmental stressors [59], increased pollution risk and control research along wetlands [40], wetlands zoning using a sustainable community-centered approach [70] that is also multi-faceted and participatory [41], using of remote sensing and new technologies to monitor wetland riparian zones and land-use threats [55,83], sustainable utilization of papyrus as a biofuel alternative to fuel wood [21,31] and papyrus maintenance [78]. In shared wetland zones, calls for continuous wetland ecosystems assessments and inventories using feasible ecosystem assessment tools have been envisioned [12]; with a focus on wetlands restoration [42] and sharing of updated information among local communities [3] including gender mainstreaming as agents of positive change [49]. This perspective brings to the fore the need for decentralization of wetland management approaches as initiated in Zimbabwe [13], Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone [10] via the use of locally feasible institutional arrangements, historical knowledge, and inclusive legislation [74].…”

“…These threats have also been increasing around Nyamuriro wetlands [46]. Around the Lake Bunyonyi catchment zone, livestock grazing led to a loss of fertile wetland soils (143 kg ha − 1 year − 1) [49]. It has been estimated that by 2040, about 48,798 Km 2 of wetlands in the cattle corridor such as around the Lake Kyoga catchment are projected to be destroyed by livestock grazing [75].…”

Navigating Through Complexity: Profiling the main threats to Sustainable Tropical Wetlands Management and its Implications to livelihoods welfare and ecosystem governance: A Case Study of Mityana District, Uganda

“…These threats have also been increasing around Nyamuriro wetlands (Kalema and Ssegawa, 2007). Around the Lake Bunyonyi catchment zone, livestock grazing led to a loss of fertile wetland soils (143 kg ha − 1 year − 1) (Kizza et al 2016). A recent study has estimated that by 2040, about 48,798 Km 2 of wetlands in the cattle corridor e.g.…”