THE AVIATION INDUSTRY AND WILDLIFE HAZARD MANAGEMENT AT AIRPORTS
NatureUganda organized a public talk to raise awareness about the impact of wildlife on the aviation industry in Uganda and around the world. Based on our surveys, Entebbe Airport in particular is located along a huge migration route for water birds. There are large numbers of eagles, storks, herons, swallows, Gulls, Terns, Egrets, and waders.  Thousands of birds roost and feed on the Nakiwogo bay and around Entebbe peninsular and indeed there have been various incidences of airstrikes. Entebbe peninsular is described as a bird sanctuary due to the high diversity of birds both terrestrial and water birds.

Worldwide, air transport is greatly threatened by the presence of these species at any airport and airline companies can lose millions in replacement of aircraft engine after damage by any of them. The feeding, roosting and migration behavior of birds has to be clearly understood to reduce these occurrences.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) manages many other air fields and aerodromes across the country and probably these facilities face similar challenges. Aviation industry and biodiversity conservation are mutually dependent on each other especially in sub-Saharan Africa where tourism is almost wholly dependent on biodiversity. Uganda is one such country where tourists come exclusively to enjoy nature, scenery and biodiversity. CAA at Entebbe International Airport put in place the Bird Hazard Control Unit (BHCU) whose responsibility is to proactively ensure safety of aircraft operations using modern techniques for bird hazard control at airports.  They have a committee to advise the authority on management of biodiversity at or near the airports. NatureUganda has been monitoring birds for the last fifteen years and we are happy to share information or expertise where we can that can improve safety.

Mr Luyinda Bbaale Deus from Civil Aviation Authoruty (CAA) presented a comprehensive overview of the presence of birds and other wildlife at the airport. He stated that "airline operators spend huge sums of money replacing aircraft parts after damage by birds and other wildlife. In tragic cases, there could be total destruction of aircraft, goods, life and environment."

Mr Bbaale highlighted the current challenges faced by the industry due to the presence of birds and other wildlife in the area and explained how these challenges are being addressed. He said that some of the methods of birds and other wildlife control involve participation of local communities around the Airport, however, the Airport authorities have adopted a number of measures and methods based on research, hazard controls and procedures to prevent birds and other wildlife hazards from occurring. He added that before a problem can be solved, the problem must be well understood. Click for his full presentation.

WETLANDS AND FORESTS
Presentation on Wetlands
The first public talk this year was held on Wednesday, 2nd February 2011 as we marked world Wetlands Day in collaboration with Wetlands Management Department (WMD) with a global theme "Wetlands and Forests". This theme was chosen because 2011 is the UN Internationational Year of Forests and the slogan is Forests for water and wetlands.

Every year, the 2nd of February marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands which took place on 2nd, February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Since 1997, government agencies, non-gorvenmental organisations and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have been taking advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits in general and the Ramsar Convention in particular.

As you may know, Wetlands and forests provide a large array of ecosystem services to Ugandans in urban and rural areas but various assessments indicate a reduction in their coverage due to conversion to cropland, urban settlements and others. While such conversions provide economic benefits, they are associated with social costs due to total loss of hydrological functions, habitat benefits and other ecosystem services. The conservation of these habitats has been highlighted as a priority and the lead agencies mandated to protect and conserve them (National Environment Management Authority-NEMA, National Forestry Authority-NFA and Wetlands Management Department-WMD) are facing challenges in stopping this habitat destruction.
Its now 40 years after signing the Ramsar convention and 20 years of Wetlands conservation in Uganda. What have we achieved in 20 years? Are wetlands better off today than 20 years ago, or have they remained waste lands? NatureUganda and WMD organised a public talk to raise awareness about linkages between wetlands, water and forests and highlighted mitigation measures to reverse the alarming rate of destruction of these habitats. Back to top

CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is not only occurring, it is accelerating. The primary cause of climate change is the emission of ‘greenhouse gases’ such as carbon dioxide and burning of fossil fuels. Deforestation accounts for almost 20 % of greenhouse gas emissions according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  Climate change is largely driven by human activity. When we emit these gases in large quantities, the earth starts to warm up and this leads to changes in climate resulting in more droughts, floods and soil erosion. Other societal problems such as growth in human population, increased urbanization and industrialization, uncontrolled environmental degradation and pollution, material consumption, widespread poverty, inequitable access to resources and the unfair global trade regime just complement the problem.

The effects of climate change on biodiversity are far-reaching and operate at many different levels i.e. from individuals, species to ecosystems. Climate change affects particular species in different ways. It may alter species distribution, abundance, behaviour, the timing of events such as migration in birds or breeding, morphology (size and shape) and genetic composition. Many such effects have already been documented in a wide range of species. Climate change also affects species directly through changes in temperature and rainfall which lead to  increased pressure from competitors, predators, parasites, diseases and disturbances (such as fires or storms).These result into catastrophic extinction rates and a bleak future for both biodiversity and people.

Climate change is also affecting the surface water established by rainfall and glacial melting, the most prominent impact of this being the reduction in the ice caps on Rwenzori Mountains by almost40% and increasing the erosive power of the nearby River Semliki, flooding and droughts have been experienced in many parts of Uganda. The temperature change and rainfall which are decisive for crop and livestock production are determinant factors of production in Agriculture. This scenario means falling crop yields threatening food security for people.

Based on the need for the public to understand issues related to climate change and mitigation measures required, NatureUganda organised a public talk to address this topic. The public talk was held on Thursday 17th June 2010 at the Uganda Museum.

Hon. David Ebong, Member of Parliament of Uganda for Maruzi Constituency, Apac District and Chairperson Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change Uganda, Chairperson Parliamentary Task Force in Africa gave a presentation on the above topic and highlighted “Climate change impacts on biodiversity and livelihoods”. Back to top

AIR POLLUTION
Presentation
This public talk was held on Thursday, 7th October 2010 and the topic discussed was “Air pollution and its consequences on the health of people and wildlife”. Air pollution is a recognized health hazard for man and animals. Although industrial air pollutants have been known to cause sickness and death for over 100 years, little attention has been paid to their importance in the decline it causes. Air pollutants have had a worldwide effect on both wildlife and humans including direct mortality, physiological stress, anaemia, bronchitis, lung cancer, and heart diseases. Some air pollutants have caused a change in the distribution of certain wildlife species.

Air pollution is mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels. Large amounts of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides, and harmful molecules are released into the atmosphere which affects ecosystems, plant life and wildlife .Dust has been a major air pollutant in all urban towns in Uganda, Kampala probably the most hit during the heavy vehicle traffic. This changes the composition of the atmosphere, water supplies and soil.
The consequences of air pollution to both humans and wildlife are enormous and we need to know what to do to reverse or completely stop the impacts. Prof Freers Juergen, Head of Cardiology Division-Department of Medicine, Makerere University has studied the impact of air pollution and has agreed to make a presentation on its consequences to health. You will not want to miss this interesting and important discussion that affects our health. Back to top