Suchergebnisse

1. Two workshops were held in Busia and Teso districts. Five villages from one location in the district were involved in the discussions. Participatory approach was used to gather information and perception of the participants on four themes: i) wetlands and water, ii) livestock and wildlife, iii) land and soils and iv) forests, woodlands and vegetation. The participants discussed the themes in their local dialects with the interpreter translating for the facilitator. It was clear that the changes in the themes were due to mans' activity and these changes were mainly; a) deforestation, b) poor soils, c) loss of wildlife, d) unsustainable cultivation in the wetlands and e) water pollution. 2. The effects of these changes on the incidences of sleeping sickness and Nagana were related to habitat destruction in the forests, woodlands and vegetation and in wetlands. The effect of the changes on human livelihood had great impact on the participants for they had not pictured the unfolding scenario and its consequences before. The groups made a number of recommendations on the way forward in each theme and indicators to evaluate the changes in case the recommendations were followed through. One of the recommendations is the formation of village environmental committees and common interest groups to spearhead conservation and sustainable use of the natural resources at the village level. These groups if formed will require to undergo training in order to see through the implementation of the recommendations. 3. It is hoped that FITCA-EMMC will engage the communities' further in order to develop action plans which would be the village's blue print on environmental conservation, protection and management at the community level. Communities need to be networked to stakeholders with similar interests, who may assist them to implement the action plans.