Impacts of wetland degradation by brick laying on peoples’ livelihoods :

Abstract

The research was conducted on Nakisunga wetland Mukono central division. It focused on assessing the impact of wet land degradation by brick making on the people's livelihood on Nakisunga wetland in Mukono central division Nakisunga village, the sampling size of the study comprised of 40 respondents from Nakisunga wetland in Mukono central division Nakisunga village, the sample frame work was composed of all stakeholders involved in wetland conservation and use. The research used random and purposive criterion in selecting respondents according to their respective wetland allocations. During data collection, various methods were used which include, making personal observation, interviews, using key informants, questionnaires, and data analysis, the data collected was analyzed using excel and findings were presented in form of frequency tables and percentages. The research found out that the major activities conducted on the wetland, that contributed for their degradation were brick making, construction of settlements, agriculture, clay excavation, the causative factor for the above mentioned activities in order of prevalence include, lack of wetland ownership rights, soil infertility, poverty, ignorance; land storage, urbanization and negligence or attitude. The reported outstanding impacts were categorized into social and economic impacts. The social ecological impacts include, reduction in water quality and quantity, increment of water related diseases such as malaria and flooding especially in the rainy season. The economic impacts reported were decrease in harvested wetland resources, decreased in soil fertility, poor agricultural yields and decrement in number of wet land animals which attracted tourists and provide game meat for sell.