Agriculture and energy are two economic sectors that have the highest impacts on biodiversity loss, a new study has shown.
The study was done between January and April 2022 and specifically demonstrates that the use of charcoal and wood fuel for heating and cooking are major drivers of biodiversity loss.
On the other hand, population growth, and the need to increase agricultural productivity have seen encroachment on forests and woodlands for farming escalate. The study report was released on October 19, 2022 in Kampala.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), the National Environment Authority (NEMA), the National Forestry Authority, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) collaborated in doing the scientific study.
The study was aimed at identifying drivers of biodiversity loss and contributions of economic sectors as the basis for rallying stakeholders to make commitments to actions that reduce further loss.
According to the study, 88% of the population use charcoal and wood fuel for cooking. Yet the demand continues to grow and if no other options are made available, the increasing demand for wood energy will lead to further loss of biodiversity. Cooking and heating are everyday necessities with massive use noticed in schools, industries, prisons, and homes.
This is the problem “the current use of biomass resources outstrips its sustainability,” Eng. Cecilia Menya, Director of renewable energy at MEMD said during a National Stakeholder Consultation workshop in Kampala. Eng. Menya suggests that the country needs to move to use cooking technologies that are sustainable and have positive impacts on biodiversity.
The study established that 870,000 people unskilled and semiskilled are directly employed in the charcoal production business. The daunting task is to find alternative sources of livelihood for these people as the country lined up several interventions to reduce the use of biomass energy. These include clean cooking agenda through the distribution of LPG. Working in partnership with GIZ, a German institution has seen at least 750,000 improved stoves installed in homes 200 of them in institutions. Meanwhile, the Dutch government has supported the construction of 8000 briquets units in a bid to generate energy from waste.
On the other hand, the agricultural contribution is a result of encroachment to the forest reserves and woodland for purposes of increasing agricultural productivity to meet the food demands of the population. In 1990 agriculture occupied 8 million hectares of land and woodland 3 million hectares. By 2019 agriculture land expanded to 10 million hectares, while woodland was reduced to 1 million hectares.
“ That is where the forests have gone. 30% of global forest loss is due to pressure to meet food demands,” National Forestry Authority (NFA) Executive Director Mr. Tom Okello said.
Attitude change from business as usual and enabling small-scale farmers to practice improved agriculture like zero grazing will help to reduce pressure on land.
BIODEV2030 Project
There is a deliberate move by stakeholders making commitments to take actions that reduce biodiversity loss under the BIODEV2030 project, a two years project in which each stakeholder will do whatever is within their means to conserve biodiversity. WWF, the ministries of water and environment, agriculture, finance, and Makerere University, and selected private players are implementing the project with financial support from the French Development Agency.
The government is bound by the United Nations Convention on Biological Biodiversity, to which it is a signatory. In December, Uganda is expected to make a report before the UN body during the 25th conference on biodiversity to be held in Montreal, Canada. Ongoing activities shall form part of government submissions on commitments to protect biodiversity loss.
NFA for example has committed to restoring 7430 hectares of forest, 40% of which will be restocked with indigenous trees and protection of well-stocked forests. The institution needs UShs 4 billion to complete the projects.
Global Environment Facility working in partnership with the government has also assisted farmers to plant 2 million trees for sustainable use of biomass stock in Kiryandongo and Mubende districts. Renewable Energy Week and road shows are some of the efforts to create awareness and increase public involvement in the use of sustainable energy sources. The National Biomass Strategy 2014 provides for increased use of renewable in the energy mix to 64% by 2030. Other efforts include emphasizing Environment Impact Assessment for all projects.
“The goal is to stop biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve complete restorations in 2050. There is a need for a deliberate decision to tackle pressure and challenges on biodiversity through voluntary commitments to provide long-term solutions,” said WWF Country Director Simon Peter Weredwong.