Department of Environmental Science

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Browsing Department of Environmental Science by Subject "Climate change"

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    Climate change adaptation and primates’ conservation in Budongo-Bugoma corridor privately owned forests
    (Kyambogo University (University work), 2024-10) Abowe, Daniel
    This study examined the strategies used by conservation NGOs in Uganda's Budongo-Bugoma Corridor (BBC) to support primate conservation and climate change adaptation (CCA). The objectives included characterizing forest conservation and CCA practices used by NGOs, determining primate species diversity, and assessing private forest owners’ attitudes toward primate conservation and CAA. Using a mixed-methods research design, the study collected quantitative data through household surveys and qualitative data through key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). A total of 206 private forest owners’ households across four parishes—Munteme, Kidoma, Kibanjwa, and Birungu—were surveyed, while 20 KIIs and 8 FGDs provided further insights. Descriptive statistics were used to describe study findings while SPSS and Atlas ti analyzed quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Primate surveys were conducted through reconnaissance walks in private forests to record species sightings. Remote sensing and GIS tools analyzed habitat conditions and spatial distribution of primate species, while encounter rates (ERs) and the Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index measured primate abundance and diversity. The study found that tree planting was the most common CCA strategy (65%), and conservation NGO efforts positively influenced forest conditions, with 69.4% of respondents reporting improvements. Forest ownership increased over time, with 68.5% of respondents owning forests between 1–2 acres in 2022, compared to 52.4% in 2010. Additionally, 82% of respondents indicated NGO support for development initiatives, such as tree farming, water access, education, and healthcare. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed significant differences in primate conservation and CCA efforts based on respondents' occupations (p ≤ 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a negative relationship between gender (male) and community contributions to conservation (p ≤ 0.05) and a positive relationship between occupation and the perceived importance of conservation (p ≤ 0.05). Twenty-three reconnaissance surveys were conducted, covering 109.3 km, with an average distance of 4.752 km per survey: Birungu (36.6 km), Kibanjwa (26.6 km), Kidoma (34.4 km), and Munteme (11.5 km). The primate surveys recorded seven species, including Chimpanzee, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Olive Baboon, Black-and-white Colobus, Blue Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, and Vervet Monkey. The diversity of primate species underscores the importance of continued conservation efforts in the BBC. To enhance effectiveness, the study recommends that future conservation and CCA initiatives consider private forest owners’ tree planting practices and occupations. An integrated approach combining preferred conservation and CCA strategies is suggested to optimize conservation outcomes. Conservation actions, it concludes, should be evidence-based, informed by scientific research, and tailored to local conditions to ensure sustainable protection of primate species and their habitats in the corridor.
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    The microbiology of Uganda’s large freshwater lakes experiencing anthropogenic and climatic perturbations : why it matters—a review
    (The Royal Society Publishing, 2025-05-12) Abiriga, Daniel; Odong, Robinson; Bakyayita, Grace Kizito; Semyalo, Ronald; Okello, William; Grossart, Hans-Peter
    Intensification of pollution of African water resources due to human activities together with climate change has serious implications for Africa’s blue economy, biodiversity and human health. Despite these overwhelming threats, there is limited research as evidenced by the underrepresentation of Africa-based data in global ecological and biochemical models. This review, therefore, aims to highlight key challenges and existing research gaps, particularly in Ugandan freshwater ecosystems. We focus on lake microbiology as this scientific field has been greatly underrepresented. Aquatic microorganisms are situated at the base of lake food webs and thus play crucial roles in the evolution and maintenance of water quality, attenuation of pollutants, and control of biogeochemical cycling through the microbial loop. Until now, the microbiology of Ugandan lakes has not been systematically studied. Thus, many open fundamental microbial ecology questions need to be urgently addressed to generate valuable information to advance future research, education, management and policy in Uganda and beyond. These include, but are not limited to: identification of microbial taxa and functional genes in relation to anthropogenic and climatic influence; seasonal and spatial variation in species diversity and functions; diversity and functions of planktonic, sediment, biofilm and mat communities; antimicrobial resistance burden; plastisphere communities; and geomicrobiology.