Are Uganda’s Agro-Forestry and Land Use Patterns Sustainable?
All Ugandans, and indeed all people, should mind natural resource sustainability. Why? Because of the economic and health effects of realities such as:
- Unsustainably high natural resource depletion due to heavy reliance on natural resources for economic development and livelihood.
- Forest land loss, due to human activities like and natural vagaries – threatening biodiversity and ecosystem.
- Wetland degradation, due to rapid urbanization, population growth, and poor planning or implementation of sustainability measures.
Necessary Actions. To address these issues, Uganda needs to:
- Invest in both production and distribution of renewable energy sources, at consumer prices affordable by all.
- Strengthen natural resource governance and law enforcement.
- Improve resource efficiency and productivity.
- Encourage private sector involvement in sustainable practices.
The public and private sectors are not lacking in this information. Government and corporate websites and libraries are full of great plans crying of neglect. By implementing these measures, Uganda can promote the conservation and sustainable management of its natural resources and ensure a more resilient and environmentally friendly future. Wouldn’t this boost the economy?
Promotion of agro-forestry (a land-use management system that integrates trees and shrubs with crops), for instance, would result into:
- Better soil health as trees improve soil structure, reduce erosion, and enhance nutrient cycling.
- Increased biodiversity as habitats improve and their depletion reduces.
- Climate change mitigation, since trees absorb carbon dioxide from and release oxygen into the atmosphere.
- Enhanced food security from high yields and sustainable farming.
Given Uganda’s diverse agro-ecological zones and rich biodiversity, agro-forestry and sustainable farming could significantly contribute more to development and wellbeing.
Keren Obara
Digital Marketing Associate.