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Is this email not displaying correctly? Click here to view in browser Issue 03 | August 2024 |
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Article
Rediscovering the Role of Nature Based Solutions in Addressing Climate Change and Land Degradation Challenges in UgandaBy Ronald Kaggwa (Manager Production, Trade and Tourism Planning - National Planning Authority) and Rebecca Nabatanzi Sserwanga (Climate Finance Adviser - Ministry of Finance)
Uganda’s economy and the livelihoods of its people mostly depends on natural resources and this has been acknowledged in many of the policy and development frameworks such as Vision 2040 and NDP III and the NDP IV strategic direction. However, these policies and plans have not been sustainably implemented and this is responsible for the continued levels of degradation which is currently at alarming proportions. Whereas natural resources are a major pillar for Uganda’s socioeconomic transformation and sustainable livelihoods, their contribution is being compromised by mismanagement and degradation. The World Bank in 2021 reported that about 41 percent of Uganda’s land is now degraded with about 39 percent of the country having an unsustainable rates of mean soil loss, which in the hotspot mountainous regions average rates over 30t/ha/year. By 2019, the overall cost of soil erosion and land degradation was estimated at about 17 percent of GDP. Productivity losses per year for maize from soil erosion have been estimated in some places as high as 190 kg/ha. The compounding effect of the recent global crises of COVID 19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and ensuing economic depression have further exacerbated the rate of degradation. At the peak of COVID 19, many people returned to agriculture and other natural resources dependent activities; following job losses and closure of micro and small businesses. This was intended to manage and survive the crisis which further strained natural resources that were already under pressure from rapid population growth, urbanization, a refugee influx and the country’s drive for industrialization. Uganda’s Vulnerability to Climate changeUganda is one of the most vulnerable countries due to the impacts of climate change. Indeed, according to the Notre Dame Vulnerability Index, Uganda is the 13th least prepared out of 191 countries in terms of adaptive capacity to impacts of climate change. The country’s vulnerability is attributed to many factors including; low climate change and disaster risk planning, limited funding and access to climate change responsive technologies, inadequate access to information on climate change early warning systems, strong economic dependence on sectors such as low input agriculture that are vulnerable to climate change. Uganda’s vulnerability to climate change is further worsened by the lack of safety nets, in form of social protection schemes and robust emergency response mechanisms. The Inter-relationships between Climate change and Natural Resource DegradationThere is a strong correlation and a complex relationship between vulnerability to climate change, the quantity, quality, diversity and productivity of natural resources and human livelihood security on the other hand. In Uganda today for instance, poverty mapping has a strong correlation with the state and productivity of the soils and land resources. Therefore, the degradation of natural resources not only worsens human livelihood insecurity, but also exacerbates poverty and these in turn increase exposure and vulnerability to the adverse impacts of climate change. These inter-relationships put nature-based solutions at the core of addressing the climate change challenge and resource degradation. Understanding Nature Based Solutions (NbSs)Nature based solutions (NbSs) are emerging as important instruments to meet the increasing challenges of climate change and resource degradation. They are solutions inspired and supported by nature to address various environmental challenges while delivering economic, social and environmental benefits. Currently, there is no clarity or general consensus on the definition of NbSs since there are various deferring definitions of what exactly constitutes nature-based solution. Nonetheless, among these definitions, there is convergence on the following key elements of NbS namely: (i) they are inspired and powered by nature; (ii) they address (societal) challenges or resolve problems; (iii) they provide multiple services/benefits, including biodiversity gain; and (iv) they are of high effectiveness and economic efficiency. NbSs take several different forms but in principle, they are focused on protection, restoration and sustainable management of vulnerable ecosystems such as; forest, wetland, rangeland, lakes, rivers and soil ecosystems. In Uganda, many of the nature-based solutions are not new inventions but rather old time practices that were used by ancestors for generations to guard against extreme weather conditions and ensuring sustainable land management for improved productivity. They are intertwined with traditional indigenous knowledge, customs, culture and good practices, some of which are still with us today. There are several examples of NbSs including among others; mulching which keeps soils moisture, terracing in hilly and mountainous areas and planting of grasses such as pasparam which reduce soil erosion. This was a common practice in the mountainous regions of Kigezi and Bugisu. Agroforestry is a long-held practice for example in coffee growing regions of Uganda, where coffee was planted under shed trees such as; Ficus Natalensis (Mituba) and intercropped with bananas. The planting of Markhamia lutea (Musambya) tree was promoted for use as poles for construction while the planting of quick maturing Acacia was meant to meet household energy needs. Relegation of Nature based SolutionsThese good practices that ensured sustainable land productivity, biodiversity conservation, income and livelihood security but above all responding to the climate change and livelihood security challenge have been relegated to the doldrums in favor of costly engineering solutions and technologies. For example, Uganda has invested heavily in engineering solutions such as Hydro Electric Power (HEP) generation compared to the cheaper NbS. However, the engineering solutions have had significant trade-offs such as biodiversity losses, scenic beauty loss as witnessed at the Bujagaali water falls lost during the construction of Nalubaale HEP dam. These associated trade-offs pose a question of how do we mitigate and adapt to climate change, while protecting biodiversity and ensuring human wellbeing? How do we manage the trade-offs? While NbSs have significant potential, they are currently underutilized to help address global challenges such as climate change, human health, food and water security, natural disasters and biodiversity loss. It is important to note that nature-based solutions offer an integrated approach in responding to the climate change and natural resource degradation while reducing trade-offs and promoting the exploitation of synergies and linkages. Rediscovering Nature Based Solutions to meet Climate change challengeIn light of the cited global challenges and subsequent change of priorities, the shrinking international finance flows and the increasingly diminishing fiscal space, there is need for innovative solutions to meeting prevailing challenges including natural resource degradation. One such innovative solutions is the potential of nature-based solutions. In recognition of the role of nature-based solutions, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) update process identified, ‘promoting sustainable management of ecosystems and the use of nature-based solutions, including through community engagement’ as pillar 4 out of thirteen (13) pillars that would transform Uganda into a climate- resilient and low-carbon society by 2050, that is prosperous and inclusive’. NbSs confer several benefits such as cleaner air and water, flood and erosion control, increased biodiversity, enhanced resilience and ability to adapt to climate change impacts, and even economic benefits borne from a cleaner, healthy and productive environment. The use of NbSs causes reductions in healthcare costs associated with cleaner drinking water and increased human capital productivity. Nature based solutions/approaches if effectively used have the potential to reduce emissions and sequester carbon dioxide and other Green House Gases (GHGs). An IUCN report, indicated that NbSs have the potential to supply up to 37% of our climate change mitigation needs. In contrast with many engineered solutions, NbSs have the potential to tackle both climate mitigation and adaptation challenges at relatively low-cost while delivering multiple additional benefits for people and nature. In its 2022 updated NDCs, Uganda committed to the ambitious climate change objectives and targets, both in adaptation to climate change and mitigation of emissions. For this, Uganda requires USD 28.1 billion which is expected to be mobilized from domestic and international sources with 86% hinged on international support. Uganda’s NDCs has included nature-based solutions and has also pronounced her intention to scale it up in international fora, the most recent being COP 28. Limitations of Nature based SolutionsThe potential and cost-effectiveness of nature-based solutions not-withstanding, it ought to be noted that the nature-based solutions cannot work as a sole response to climate change and resource degradation challenges. Meeting the global target of 1.50 C requires other complementary interventions. Using nature-based solutions to restore ecosystems’ integrity is a long-term intervention associated with significant trade-offs including waiting as the country continues to bear the costs of climate change and livelihood insecurity caused by resource degradation. Some of the nature-based solutions adopted in Uganda have a low biodiversity value. For example, while the forest cover has increased from 9.5 percent in FY 17/18 to 13.3 percent in 2023, natural forests that are rich in biodiversity have been lost. The increment is mainly attributed to private plantation forests (mainly eucalyptus and pine) which are poor in biodiversity. Conclusions and Policy recommendationsNature-based Solutions (NbSs) have a big potential to address societal challenges through the protection, sustainable management and restoration of ecosystems, benefiting both biodiversity and human well-being. Bibliography
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