National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) WORLD WETLANDS DAY 2nd February 2011 Theme: Wetlands for Forests PUBLIC TALK AT UGANDA MUSEUM, KAMPALA Topic: 20 years of Wetlands Conservation in Uganda - Have Uganda’s Wetlands become Wastelands Again? Presented by: Aryamanya-Mugisha, Henry (Ph.D) Executive Director National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) P.O. Box 22255 Kampala
[email protected] www.nemaug.org Febraury 2011 1. WHAT ARE WETLANDS? Wetlands are shallow seasonally or permanently water logged or flooded areas, which normally support hydrophytic vegetation (water tolerant). Hydrophytic plants are those that are adapted to growing in water or are found in predominantly wet places. According to the Ramsar Convention, “wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static, or flowing, fresh, brackish or salty, including areas of marine water that do not exceed 6 meters at low tide”. The National Environment Act, Cap 153 under Section 2 defines wetlands as areas permanently or seasonally flooded by water where plants and animals have become adopted. Uganda’s National Policy for the Conservation and Management of Wetland Resources (1994) defines wetlands as areas “where plants and animals have become adapted to temporary or permanent flooding.” It includes permanently flooded areas with papyrus or grass swamps, swamp forests or high-altitude mountain bogs, as well as seasonal flood plains and grasslands. While all wetlands are characterized