| dc.description.abstract | Countries that are party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), including Uganda, are
obliged to monitor biodiversity (Article 7.b) but many have yet to establish national monitoring
programmes. Many animal and plant species have declined in numbers, geographical spread, or
both but quantitative monitoring data are not readily available. Human activity has increased the
extinction rate of species worldwide by at least 100 times compared to the natural rate. The main
factors directly driving biodiversity loss include, but are not limited to, habitat loss,
fragmentation of forests, invasive alien species, overexploitation, pollution and climate change.
Biodiversity monitoring data coupled with other environmental data form an important basis for
future nature conservation policy and for other policy areas that have a significant impact on
biodiversity for example; forestry, agriculture, and wildlife. Biodiversity monitoring can be used
to identify negative and positive impacts on biodiversity at an early stage and trigger appropriate
action. Distinguishing natural fluctuations from abnormal changes and identifying cause-andeffect
relationships between external factors and changes in biodiversity is an important outcome
of monitoring.
The unique global status of Uganda in terms of biodiversity necessitates that it is properly
managed to prevent unprecedented losses. Uganda has a unique occurrence and distribution of
biodiversity, attributed to the country’s location within the equatorial belt and the associated
physical and climatic features as well as overlap of phytochoria. In Uganda, however,
approximately 200 species of plants and animals are red-listed meaning that they are species of
global importance for conservation and deserve special attention. However, Uganda lacks a
biodiversity monitoring framework through which activities related to biodiversity can be
harmonized, and information/data shared to prevent duplication and wastage of scarce resources.
Uganda is also obliged to align its biodiversity management goals alongside the 2010
Biodiversity Target and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) particularly Goal 7. The
CBD recognizes that national participation towards meeting the 2010 Target must be informed
and driven by national priorities, but these are unclear for Uganda. | en_US |
