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Towards One Hundred Wetlands in the Acholi Region, Uganda an Action-Based Research on Developing Wetlands for Water Security and Sustainable Land Use

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Towards One Hundred Wetlands in the Acholi Region, Uganda an Action-Based Research on Developing Wetlands for Water Security and Sustainable Land Use Towards one hundred wetlands in the Acholi region, Uganda An action-based research on developing wetlands for water security and sustainable land use MSc thesis by Paul van Dam January 13, 2017 Soil Physics and Land Management Group i Front page image: road crossing a wetland in Agago district with characteristic water retention on the upstream side, May 18, 2016 (Dam, 2016). All photographs and illustrations in this thesis are made by the author, unless mentioned otherwise. ii Towards one hundred wetlands in the Acholi region, Uganda An action-based research on developing wetlands for water security and sustainable land use Master thesis Soil Physics and Land Management Group submitted in partial fulfilment of the degree of Master of Science in International Land and Water Management at Wageningen University, the Netherlands Date January 13, 2017 Study program MSc International Land and Water Management Student registration number 91 07 26 170 120 Course code SLM 80336 Supervisors WU supervisor: dr. ir. Luuk Fleskens Host supervisor: Maarten Onneweer Examinator dr. ir. Luuk Fleskens Soil Physics and Land Management group Wageningen University The Netherlands www.wageningenur.nl/slm iii iv Preface and acknowledgements This MSc thesis is the result of six years of studying international land and water management at Wageningen University. At this moment, I am both relieved and thankful that I can present to you this report, which forms a large milestone in my life so far. One of the things that struck me most during the field work in Uganda is the lack of most basic resources for human needs, such as safe drinking water or proper sanitation facilities. It is hard to comprehend that in 2016, there is still no adequate provision of these resources for people in the poorest countries, while the western world is spending billions in developing new luxurious technologies like smartphones, apps or social media. At the same time, I was impressed to witness improvement in this country that has suffered the consequences of civil war for many years. Many people are working every day to improve the quality of life for communities living in these circumstances. This research focusses on wetland development in the Acholi region in Northern Uganda, by investigating opportunities for water harvesting in wetlands to increase water security. Through this thesis, I hope to contribute to developing better living conditions for the people that live in this region by means of improved land and water management. My thanks go out to Maarten Onneweer and Astrid van Rooij, who provided me with the opportunity to write my thesis as part of the proposal ‘towards one hundred wetlands in the Acholi region’, developed by RAIN foundation and Amref Health Africa. Many thanks for your supervision and support and this chance to get more insight in the work of NGO’s. Many thanks also to James Williams Kisekka (RAIN), Isa Sematimba and Teo Namata (Amref Uganda), who gave me friendship, support and supervision and taught me much about Uganda during the 3,5 months of field work. I enjoyed the contact and discussions we had, which helped me during my research. It also gave me better understanding of working in an African country and made me appreciate the cultural differences. Likewise Luuk Fleskens; thanks for your supervision from the Sustainable Land Management group. Your experience in scientific research was a great asset during the times I needed help or fresh insights. And last but not least, a special word of thanks goes to my friends in Pader with whom I spend time apart from the work. You made me feel comfortable in this remote little town in Acholi land. Because there was always someone of you to talk to or to ask for help with whatever I needed, I never felt lonely and was able to enjoy the warmth of Ugandan culture. Mike, Marianne and Tom, thank you so much for inviting me in your little mixed family! Paul van Dam 13 January 2017 v Abstract Towards one hundred wetlands in the Acholi region, Uganda An action-based research on developing wetlands for water security and sustainable land use Wetlands provide vital ecosystem services supporting water security as well as other benefits and values to society and the economy. In the Acholi region in Northern Uganda, past conflict, population growth and climate change increase uncontrolled use of wetlands. While contributing to livelihood security in the short term, this increasing pressure on wetlands limits ecosystem services in the long run. Moreover, for many households, water availability is insufficient for domestic and agricultural use. As part of a project by RAIN-foundation and Amref Flying Doctors, this action-based research aims to facilitate planning of water retention structures for water security and sustainable land use. In a case study in Pader and Agago districts, part of the Acholi region, better understanding of the current extent and use of wetlands was sought by collecting data through field visits and interviews with stakeholders at multiple levels. The concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is used as a framework to deal with the complex issues around wetland use. This thesis presents a planning method that takes into account socio-economic, physical, environmental and political factors. Based on a Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA), three suitable locations were identified. Development of water retention structures in wetlands can play a key role in achieving water security, while ensuring sustainable wetland ecosystems. To achieve this, better cooperation between stakeholders and exchange of best practices is needed. The effects of such interventions on local communities is hard to predict. Therefore, a pilot project is recommended. Keywords: wetlands, water security, integrated water resources management, Uganda vi Table of Contents Preface and acknowledgements .............................................................................................................. v Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... vi List of abbreviations ................................................................................................................................ ix 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 General introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Introducing wetland development ................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Problem definition ......................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Research objective and research questions .................................................................................. 2 2. Study area ............................................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 Location ......................................................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Historic context ............................................................................................................................. 3 2.3 Climate ........................................................................................................................................... 4 2.4 Population ..................................................................................................................................... 4 2.5 Water availability........................................................................................................................... 5 3. Concepts and theories ......................................................................................................................... 6 3.1 Water security ............................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Integrated water resource management approach ...................................................................... 7 3.2.1 Issues assessment ................................................................................................................... 7 3.2.2 Water resources strategy ....................................................................................................... 8 3.2.3 Planning of water management interventions ...................................................................... 8 4. Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 9 4.1 Research design ............................................................................................................................. 9 4.2 Operationalization of concepts ................................................................................................... 10 4.2.1 Water security ...................................................................................................................... 10 4.2.2 Water demand and supply ................................................................................................... 10 4.2.3 Indicators determining wetland use ...................................................................................
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