INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT: UGANDA

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INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT UGANDAS
EXPERIENCES

• Ronald Kaggwa
• Environment Economist and National Focal Point
• National Environment Management Authority
• (NEMA)
• UGANDA

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Introduction

• Uganda carried out a Pilot Integrated Ecosystem
  Assessment (IEA) covering the Lake Kyoga
  catchment (a Sub-catchment of the Nile Basin).
• The IEA had three layers of focus
• local sites in Nakasongola, Bududa and Butaleja
  Districts
• the regional assessment focusing on the Lake
  Kyoga catchment as a whole
• the linkage with national level activities,
  policies and programmes.
• The IEA covered three districts of Manafa,
  Butalejja and Nakasongola.
• Estimated population, 8 million people with 94
  living in rural areas.

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Introduction Contd

• The focus area has a population of 8 million
  people with 94 living in rural areas.

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Map of Uganda and the Study Area
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Purpose of the IEA

• Improve understanding on the linkages btn
  ecosystem services and human well-being
• Inform and influence policy formulation, planning
  and implementation esp. the PEAP and improve
  environmental decision-making
• Build national capacity to undertake IEA
• Demonstrate the advantages of the MA approach
  with a view to mobilizing funds for a national
  assessment in the future
• Identify drivers of ecosystem change
• inform the development of an ME framework
  focusing on poverty and environment.

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Introduction Contd

• Targeted stakeholders
• Policy and decision-makers at National and Local
  Government levels.
• The Academia Universities and other Institutions
  of Higher learning.
• The Development Partners
• The CSOs and CBOs
• The Private Sector

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Introduction Contd

• The IEA was carried out by multi-disciplinary
  assessment team lead by Makerere University
  Institute of Environment and Natural Resources
  (MUIER) comprised of
• two Environment Economists
• two Natural Resource Specialists
• a Sociologist and Gender Specialist
• a Soil Scientist and GIS Specialist

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Introduction Contd

• The IEA cost US 70,000 in terms of consultancy
  fees, field work, preparatory workshop etc.
• It was planned to take 90 days unfortunately it
  has taken more than earlier planned.
• The IEA tool
• The IEA is based on the MA which assessed the
  capacity of ecosystems to support human
  well-being and life on earth.
• It specifically focused on providing policy
  relevant scientific information about the
  relationships between ecosystem change and human
  well-being to decision-makers.

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The IEA tool and Methodology

• Why the Lake Kyoga catchment was selected
• there are plenty of ecosystems
• there is evidence of strong linkages between
  ecosystems and human well-being
• the ecosystems have changed and are likely to
  change in future, which will influence ecosystem
  services and human well-being.
• The IEA had three layers of focus
• local sites in Nakasongola, Bududa and Butaleja
  Districts
• the regional assessment focusing on the Lake
  Kyoga catchment as a whole and,
• the linkage with national level activities,
  policies and programmes

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Cows grazing in an area that was originally a
wetland
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The IEA tool and Methodology

• Both primary and secondary sources of data were
  used.
• It Involved transect walks, field visits, Key
  Informant interviews and consultations with the
  local communities and their leaders.
• The finest scale assessment at the sub county and
  village level relied on spatial and temporal
  scales.
• The MA Framework and methodologies were used with
  some modification in analysis.

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A member of the Assessment Team in Consultations
with the Community
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Ranking of Ecosystems during a Womens Focus
Group Discussions
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Women listen as the Ranking of Ecosystems is read
out
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Key results/findings

• Drivers of ecosystem change
• Undefined property rights
• Land use changes
• Population dynamics
• Social-political factors
• Special challenges of sustainable dry-land mgt
• Conflicts between conservation (protected areas)
  and community interests

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Impacts of the IEA

• Created local capacity in IEA
• Growing understanding and appreciation of the
  linkages between ecosystems, poverty reduction
  and human well-being
• The MA methodology is being applied in the
  country as an assessment tool in policy relevant
  research
• Plans are underway to introduce IEA as a course
  unit in MUIENR.
• Integrated the spatial and temporal concerns
  alongside immediate concerns such as poverty,
  property rights concerns (particularly land) and
  health care.

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Potential uses of the IEA results

• The IEA report will be used
• Review and evaluation of the Poverty Eradication
  Action Plan (PEAP)
• Prosperity for all programme. Significant
  reduction of poverty the central item is an
  election promise of the NRM Govt and is based on
  sustainable ecosystem mgt
• Policy and decision making particularly at the
  local level

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Difficulties encountered

• Completing the report on time
• Selecting the multi-disciplinary assessment team
  and the appropriate ecosystem which clearly
  demonstrates the key linkages.
• Harmonising the detailed and slow GOU contract
  and procurement procedures with the time bound
  nature of the project requiring quick and prompt
  actions.
• Ensuring effective multi-stakeholder/ partner
  coordination

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Difficulties/Challenges

• Thinking of the concept of ecosystems in an
  integrated manner as opposed to stand alone
  natural resources.
• Getting the private sector onboard and
  participating fully