Assessing the drivers and impacts of wetland degradation :

Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to assess the drivers and impacts of wetland degradation; a case of Myoma wetland in Kakumiro district. The study was guided by three objectives namely: to identify the drivers of the degradation of Myoma wetland, Kakumiro district, to find out the impacts of the degradation of the wetland ecosystem and to the livelihoods of the people around Myoma wetland, Kakumiro district and to identify the existing and potential intervention measures of controlling wetland degradation in Myoma wetland, Kakumiro district. The study adopted a descriptive research design and it relied mostly on primary data that was collected using questionnaires and interviews. The study generated both qualitative and quantitative data. The quantitative data was analyzed by tabulating and computing percentages while qualitative data was analyzed by coding and establishing common themes that emerged in the process of interacting with participants. It was found out that that major driver of wetland degradation was carrying out agriculture and this was because of the fertile soils within and around the wetland that supports crop growth which has further attracted many people in the wetland. It was also found out that poverty, pollution and dumping of wastes have also accelerated wetland degradation. These have resulted in to loss of biodiversity due to the clearance of vegetation, outbreak of floods, drought thus poor crop growth, destruction of property and spread of diseases. It was also found out that wetland degradation is not beneficial but instead has more negative effects to the community around Myoma wetland since much of the land has been taken up by the activities carried out within the wetland that alter its natural setup. The findings show that the government has efforts to reduce wetland degradation through sensitization and law enforcement by arresting and fining of encroachers. However, it has not been sufficient enough because of corruption among the enforcers and also of resistance from the encroachers that have continued to degrade the wetland despite of the penalties put up.