Economic value of ecosystem services provided by wetlands, role of wetlands in enhancing community livelihood and resilience to climate change, in Hoima District, Albertine rift valley zone, Western region Uganda.

Abstract

The selected wetlands of Kaitabahuma, kiribanywa and Wambabya wetland provide important ecosystem goods and services on which the communities around them rely for their livelihood. However, these wetlands are faced with some of the most severe forms of unsustainable use, which has reduced the ability of these to provide the needs of a growing population. A number of specific interventions have been initiated to reverse the situation. However, most of these have pursued different resource use options. without knowledge of the values that residents attach to the different wetland uses and thus their preferences for different management options. Among the key hindrances to sustainable management of the wetlands is lack of knowledge of the economic Values of the wetlands in regard of the different wetland uses. This study aimed at identifying the economic value of ecosystem services provided by wetlands, role of wetlands in enhancing community, livelihood and resilience to climate change in the Albertine region, western Uganda case study on Wambabya, Kaitabahuma and kiribanywa wetlands, in Hoima district. The overall objective for the study was to attach economic value to the ecosystem services that wetlands provide to communities around them in relation to peoples livelihood attainment in these surrounding communities. The study was cross sectional and used both qualitative and quantitative approaches of data collection; data collected was analysed and presented in tables. The methods of data collection were basically interviews, questionnaires and observation of events in the field. A total number of 70 (seventy) respondents was selected for this research study and these were from three different study sites that is Wambabya, Kaitabahuma and kiribanywa wetlands. The main data collection tools employed for the study were questionnaires and field observation. The valuation methods used were basically contingent valuation and market price of products. These methods were essential in ascertaining how much amount the respondents are willing to pay for the different ecosystem services provided by the wetlands in Hoima district. The findings revealed that there were -many women involved in subsistence farming than men. The majority of the households derive their livelihood from the wetlands around their communities. Findings farther show that most individuals use the wetland for agriculture among other activities like brick grazing and hunting. The earnings from these activities per month continue to decline because of the changing status of the wetlands that is in terms of the biodiversity and the low water levels; this can be attributed to the poor use of the wetland areas by the surrounding community which has resulted into the degradation of the wetlands in Hoima district. Key Words: Ecosystem services, Wetlands, Economic value, Fresh water, Albertine region, western Uganda