onnecting C poverty ecosystem &services A series of seven country scoping studies Focus on Uganda Connecting poverty and ecosystem services: A series of seven country scoping studies © 2005 United Nations Environment Programme and the International Institute for Sustainable Development Published for the United Nations Environment Programme by the International Institute for Sustainable Development United Nations Environment Programme The mission of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is to provide leadership and to encourage partner- ships in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. Division of Policy Development and Law (DPDL) The objective of DPDL, a division within UNEP, is to enable members of the international community to develop integrated and coherent policy responses to environmental problems and to strengthen environmental law as well as to improve com- pliance with and enforcement of legal instruments. The Poverty-Environment Unit Within DPDL, the Poverty-Environment Unit is responsible for coordination of policy review, analysis and development as well as for the promotion of regional and national environmental policy development. It fosters partnerships with UN agen- cies, donors, the private sector and civil society to promote policy development in areas such as water, land-use, drylands, urban environment, poverty and environment linkages, health and environment, climate change and energy. 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IISD is registered as a charitable organization in Canada and has 501(c)(3) status in the United States. IISD receives core operating support from the Government of Canada, provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Environment Canada; and from the Province of Manitoba. The institute receives project funding from numerous governments inside and outside Canada, United Nations agencies, foundations and the private sector. International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3B 0Y4 Tel: +1 (204) 958-7700 Fax: +1 (204) 958-7710 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.iisd.org/ Authors: Carissa Wong, Marlene Roy, Dr. Anantha Kumar Duraiappah The views and interpretations reflected in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the United Nations Environment Programme or the International Institute for Sustainable Development. All information in this paper was current at time of publication. Focus on Uganda ii Connecting poverty and ecosystem services: A series of seven country scoping studies Background Ecosystems provide more than the resources needed The objective of the series is not to provide a detailed for material welfare and livelihoods. In addition to assessment of the poverty-environment linkages, but supporting all life and regulating natural systems, to identify the regions within the countries where they specifically provide health and cultural benefits critical ecosystem services for human well-being are to people. Moreover, their loss is a significant barrier stressed, signalling the need for immediate attention. to the achievement of the Millennium Development This information is expected to inform and guide the Goals related to reduction of poverty, hunger and dis- selection of potential areas where a more detailed ease. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA),1 local-scale integrated assessment of the links between released in 2005, reported, though, that 15 of the 23 ecosystem services and human well-being can be car- ecosystem services assessed were being degraded or ried out. used unsustainably. These reports do not cover previous policy interven- In light of these findings, this report sets out to pro- tions, as the local-scale integrated assessment would vide a preliminary review of ecosystem services in gather such information and report on the impacts Uganda and the corresponding constituents and these polices have had in the past. Lessons learned can determinants of well-being related to the availability then be used together with new knowledge gathered of these services. This paper is one of seven scoping on the links between ecosystem services and human studies prepared by the International Institute for well-being to design more finely-tuned intervention Sustainable Development for the United Nations strategies that would seek to promote the reduction of Environment Programme. Other countries examined poverty and improve well-being while protecting and in this series are Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, enhancing vital ecosystem services. Mozambique, Rwanda and Tanzania. All of the papers are available online at http://www.iisd.org/economics/ 1 The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment was a four-year study requested by the United Nations Secretary General in 2001 to pro- vide an overview of the state of the global ecosystems and the consequences of ecosystem changes on human well-being. Focus on Uganda 1 Connecting poverty and ecosystem services: A series of seven country scoping studies Executive Summary 1. The rate of deforestation and wetland degrada- 3. Dropping agricultural yields are a serious issue tion stand out as these two services underpin that needs addressing if economic entitlements most of Uganda’s biodiversity and the level of are to be improved. Increasing energy costs stress appears to be quite high. caused by dwindling fuel wood sources will put even greater pressure on household budgets. 2. Water quality in urban and rural centres, cou- pled with poor sanitation facilities is rapidly 4. Uganda may be facing a severe food nourish- becoming a problem. Present deforestation rates ment problem if it does not increase its agricul- will inadvertently cause watershed catchments tural productivity and produce more protein to disappear causing deterioration in the based food. The high population growth rate Internal Renewable Water Resource level. implies an increasing demand for food which cannot be met under present conditions. Ecosystem services stressed and constituents of well-being threatened, by region Region Ecosystem services stressed Constituents of human well-being threatened Central Biodiversity loss: mainly deforestation Adequately nourished: almost 50 per cent of children Food provision: soil degradation, drought stunted and severely stunted and control of pests Adequate and clean water: prevalence of diarrhea Water supply, regulation and purification: Energy: wood deficit in many regions wetland degradation, low groundwater Ability earn a livelihood: incidence of poverty supply mainly 20–25 per cent range Fuel (energy): deforestation and wood deficit districts Eastern Biodiversity loss: habitat fragmentation and Adequately nourished: generally food insecure land degradation Adequate and clean water: prevalence of diarrhea Food provision: soil degradation, tsetse fly Energy: wood deficit in a few regions and control of pests Ability earn a livelihood: Low – high areas poverty Water supply, regulation and purification: across districts wetland degradation, droughts and floods Fuel (energy): deforestation and some wood deficit districts Northern Biodiversity loss: land degradation, Adequately nourished: generally food insecure, most overgrazing and poaching underweight children Food provision: soil degradation, drought Adequate and clean water: drought, least access to Water supply, regulation and purification: water; diarrhea recurring droughts and floods Energy: woodfuel shortage in two districts Fuel (energy): large number of displaced Ability earn a livelihood: highest incidence of poverty persons Western Biodiversity loss: habitat fragmentation, Adequately nourished: high incidence of child stunting deforestation, hunting and poaching Adequate and clean water: incidence of river Food provision: land and soil degradation blindness, drought, prevalence of diarrhea and control of pests Energy: wood deficit in many districts Water supply, regulation and purification: Ability earn a livelihood: lower incidence of poverty wetland degradation, water pollution with higher pockets Fuel (energy): wood deficit in many districts Focus on Uganda 2 Connecting poverty and ecosystem services: A series of seven country scoping studies Ecosystem services Fuel provision The literature review of Uganda’s ecosystem services Firewood and charcoal and agricultural wastes are the revealed four critically stressed ecosystem services: primary source of energy in Uganda and comprise