Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development: Uganda's Crucial Step in Combating Biodiversity Loss

Strategic Insights -

The world marks the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22 under the theme "Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development," highlighting the pressing need to restore and protect Uganda's rich ecosystems, which are under growing pressure from human activities. With over 18,783 documented species of flora and fauna, Uganda is one of Africa's top ten most biodiverse countries, hosting a significant portion of the world's mountain gorillas, bird species, and mammal species. However, the country loses between 10-11 percent of its biodiversity every decade due to overexploitation of resources, habitat destruction, agricultural expansion, pollution, and climate change.

Key Takeaways:

  • Uganda is home to over 18,783 documented species of flora and fauna, making it one of Africa's top ten most biodiverse countries.
  • The country hosts 53.9 percent of the world's mountain gorillas, 11 percent of global bird species, and 7.8 percent of mammal species.
  • Uganda loses between 10-11 percent of its biodiversity every decade due to major drivers including overexploitation of resources, habitat destruction, agricultural expansion, pollution, and climate change.
  • Key drivers of biodiversity loss include poverty, population growth, and accelerated urbanization.
  • There is growing momentum in efforts to strengthen environmental monitoring, enhance transparency, and promote good governance in natural resource management.
  • Organizations are advancing conservation, environmental education, and community empowerment, including equitable benefit sharing and revenue allocation.
  • Integrating biodiversity into development planning and including youth, women, and indigenous communities in decision-making is crucial to achieve harmony with nature.
  • Scaling up ecosystem restoration, particularly of degraded wetlands and forests, is essential to achieve harmony with nature.
  • Biodiversity is critical to human survival and well-being, providing food, medicine, clean water, climate regulation, energy sources, and supporting livelihoods.

Statistics:

  • Uganda has over 18,783 documented species of flora and fauna.
  • The country hosts 53.9 percent of the world's mountain gorillas.
  • 11 percent of global bird species (1,063) and 7.8 percent of mammal species (345) are found in Uganda.
  • Over 5,400 plant species are recorded, with 30 of them endemic to Uganda.
  • Uganda loses between 10-11 percent of its biodiversity every decade.
  • 30 percent of Uganda's wetlands and 50 percent of its forests are degraded.

Sources:

  • Uganda's National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
  • Uganda's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAP I in 2002 and NBSAP II in 2015).
  • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
  • Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
  • Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing.
  • Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress.