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Echuya Livelihood & Conservation Project Commences in Style The aturalist NewsletterN Vol: 16.1 March 2012 Echuya Livelihood & Conservation INSIDE THIS ISSUE • Climate change 1 Project Commences in Style • How common are Uganda’s common birds 1 • World wetlands day celebrations 3 • Earth hour for energy conservation 3 • African Black Duck in Echuya Forest Reserve 5 • How Interesting Nature walks can be 6 • Recent and rare sightings 7 Climate Change: 40% of Uganda’s birds could An Aerial view of Echuya Central Forest Reserve go extinct by 2100 atureUganda is currently awareness raising meetings have implementing a project been successfully organized in limate change, in combination ‘Improved livelihoods the nine parishes around Echuya with deforestation, could send throughN sustainable management forest. These have been key in Cbetween 100 and 2,500 tropical of forest resources in and around conceptualization of the project by birds into extinction before the end of Echuya Forest, in western Uganda. the target beneficiaries and will also the century, according to new research The project aims at providing a help in enhancing awareness and published in Biological Conservation, national demonstration of how appreciation of CFM benefits and the an online journal. Uganda has more than to develop a sustainable source ecological values of Echuya forest. 1,047 bird species and at least 40% of of income through Collaborative Also, the project conducted meetings them face the risk of extinction by 2100 Forest Management (CFM) in the 9 parishes to identify and if the current trend of global warming prioritize Agro-Forestry options is not checked. “Because of Uganda’s As part of the initial stages of and Income generating activities fast growing population, there is undue project implementation, community 2 pressure on natural habitats such as forests and wetlands. This growth has not only impacted on the environment in terms How common are Uganda’s common birds? of climate change, but have also pushed ou may wonder what the answer along the way you are bound to see or hear away some of the natural inhabitants of to this question is. I guess you quite a good number of Common bulbuls. these areas such as animals and birds.” Yhave a different answer from You reach the forest, park your car what I am thinking. Many birds seem and go for a bird count through the Mr. Achilles Byaruhanga cited an to remain common in most areas of forest and your head keeps telling example of the Grey Crowned Crane the country until you start looking for you that you have seen the common commonly known as the Uganda them. Take an example; you drive from bulbul until you end the count and look Crested Crane, whose population Kampala to Mabira Forest Reserve and through your list to realize that actually, was 100,000 in 1975 but has since 4 2 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE NEWS 1 Dear member, Climate Change... reduced by nearly 90% to leave only 10,000 individuals. This is It is my great pleasure to mainly because these birds breed in swamps during rainy season but welcome you to volume have been pushed away due to habitat destruction and degradation. 16.1 of the NatureUgan- da Newsletter The Natu- “Long droughts will most likely hurt the birds’ ralist. I extend my sin- ability to find food during breeding season,” he cere greetings and wish added. Bird species in Uganda, which have put you a prosperous 2012. the country among the top tourist centres but face It is my sincerer hope that you are still en- extinction as a result of climate change, include joying nature through the various member- Grey Crowned Crane, Grey Kestrel, Verreaux’s ship events and other activities implemented by the society through the secretariat. Let Eagle-owl and Grey headed Gull among others. me take this opportunity to thank you for Globe your continued support, which has result- ed in the continued growth in membership. Currently, the global climate has warmed up by about 0.80c since the You will also realize that we are in the process Industrial Revolution. The scientists of redesigning strategies to reciprocate this sup- note that a single added degree of port and ensure that we attract more members warming could push an additional 100 to the society. In order to achieve this, we have to 500 tropical birds extinct. “If we fail published a membership survey form which to achieve important societal change is intended to help us identify our strength to reduce consumption, to control the and weaknesses. Copies will be circulated to emissions of greenhouse gases and to stop all members and you are kindly requested to climate change, we face the prospect of an contribute towards this by filling these forms out-of-control climate that will not only and returning them to the secretariat. You are lead to enormous human suffering, but also kindly requested to ensure that you not will also trigger the extinction of countless only remember to renew your membership in organisms, among which birds will be but time but also encourage your friends to do the a fraction of the total ” Grey-Crowned Crane same. This way, we shall enable the secretariat perform its duties to its best and build a strong By Phionah Mwesige society. I therefore count on your support and IT Support, NatureUganda (Adopted from The New Vision) commitment as I spear head the EC’s challenge to steer the Organization to greater heights. This project will focus on diversified and viable in the long Finally, I extend my sincere thanks and appre- three strategic areas namely; run; 3. Improving the ecological ciation to all our partners, stake holders, and supporters as we promote the understanding, 1. Building the capacity of integrity of the ECFR in the long appreciation and conservation of Nature. I stakeholders FACs, CFM term. We will achieve this by wish you good reading and a successful 2012 associations, CBOs such as securing the natural resources, UOBDU, Government and environmental services and Mr. Paul Mafabi NGOs to work in partnership biodiversity of ECFR. Chairman-NatureUganda to implement and promote CFM; 2. Increase economic and We will continue to work with 1 social benefits FACs receive all stakeholders in the Echuya Echuya Livelihood ... from sustainable use of natural region in order to harmonize our that are viable around Echuya forest. Many resources both from inside planning and avoid duplication community members around Echuya forest the forest, but increasingly of efforts. This will enable us turned up and actively participated in the and mainly from resources secure synergies and greater exercise. From this activity data generated outside of the ECFR, so that impacts and therefore achieve will be of vital importance for subsequent their dependency on the forest our project objectives implementation of project activities. resources of the ECFR is reduced, and becomes more By John Rubaramira 2 NEWS Rakai District hosts World Wetlands day celebrations n 2nd February 2012 the world contribute to national development. the commissioner for wetlands, Mr. celebrated World wetlands day. Paul Mafabi all emphasized the need OIn Uganda the celebrations were Schools and community groups drawn to protect the environment through held in Rakai district. Ministry of Water from Rakai district participated through combined efforts noting the need to and Environment in partnership with plays, songs and dances. relate wetland conservation to the Wetlands Management tourism industry. They all thanked Department and other the civil society and the various stakeholders in wetlands groups that have played a big role in management joined raising awareness of the importance of together for the day’s wetlands and ensuring that the wetland event under the theme; conservation agenda is realized. Wetland Tourism- a great experience. The function was also attended by the Chief Administrative officer, district The event was geared at local councilors and other dignitaries. enhancing the importance NatureUganda joined wetlands of wetlands in line with division and other partners to stage an tourism due to their natural exhibition of best practices in wetland beauty and biodiversity. As conservation and management a natural intrinsic value, there is a great importance School children entertaining guests By Sandra Sayuni for income generation from the activities The key speakers for the day including Membership Assistant related to wetland tourism and therefore Hon. Minister of Water and Environment, NatureUganda a possibility to support the livelihoods of Flavia Nabugere, Member of Parliament the communities at a local level and also Rakai district Hon. Kasamba Mathias and Earth Hour for Energy Conservation Nature (WWF) and it took place at Sheraton Hotel gardens. n 31st March 2012, Uganda joined the rest The Guest of Hour, Mr James Banabe, the assistant Commissioner Oof the world to celebrate of energy efficiency, at the Ministry of Energy said “ There is no Earth Hour under the theme doubt that Climate Change is one of the major global challenges “ENERGY CONSERVATION”. for humanity today. He indicated that the Government has Earth Hour is a global event put in place the necessary policies, legal and institutional initiated by WWF (World Wide frameworks to guide the generation, supply and use of energy. Fund for Nature) held annually on the last Saturday of March. The Executive director NatureUganda, Mr. Achilles On this day, households and businesses are required to turn Byaruhanga said that we should look at energy conservation off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for as a way of life. He also indicated that we should take one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on the initiative to involve the youth in Nature conservation. climate change. Earth Hour was conceived by WWF and The Sydney Morning Herald in 2007, when 2.2 million residents “We have taken Nature for granted for too long, we only of Sydney participated by turning off all non-essential lights.
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