Project Summary

NatureUganda, in partnership with the Uganda Biodiversity Fund and Regenerate Africa, is preparing a conservation initiative aimed at strengthening biodiversity conservation and improving community resilience in the Sango Bay and Lake Nabugabo Ramsar Sites in South-western Uganda. The preparation phase is laying the scientific, institutional, and community foundations for a comprehensive programme that will restore critical wetland ecosystems while supporting sustainable livelihoods.

The project is being developed with financial support from the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Environment and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

Background

The Sango Bay and Lake Nabugabo Ramsar Sites are among Uganda’s most important wetlands, supporting globally significant biodiversity, providing critical ecosystem services, and sustaining the livelihoods of thousands of people. However, these ecosystems face increasing pressure from habitat degradation, unsustainable resource use, invasive species, pollution, and the impacts of climate change.

The preparation phase seeks to generate the evidence, partnerships, and implementation framework needed to develop a full-scale project that addresses these challenges through ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, improved governance, and community-led climate resilience.

What the Preparation Phase Will Deliver

During this preparatory period, partners are undertaking a range of assessments and consultations that will inform the design of the full project. These include:

• Ecological, socio-economic, institutional and governance assessments.
• Multi-taxa biodiversity baseline surveys.
• Mapping of degraded wetlands.
• Carbon stock and greenhouse gas assessments.
• Risk, gender and environmental safeguards analyses.
• Stakeholder consultations with government agencies, local communities, civil society organisations and cultural institutions.
• Development of governance structures and coordination mechanisms for long-term implementation.

The information generated will provide a robust scientific baseline for monitoring biodiversity recovery and ecosystem restoration over the life of the future project.

The proposed full project aims to:

• Restore approximately 5,000 hectares of degraded wetlands and peatlands within the Ramsar sites.
• Strengthen biodiversity monitoring through community-based monitoring systems.
• Improve coordination among government institutions and conservation partners.
• Support climate adaptation planning at local level.
• Promote sustainable nature-based enterprises and resilient livelihoods.
• Establish a revolving conservation fund to support long-term community resilience.

Once implementation funding is secured, the project is expected to contribute to:

• Improved conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity within the Ramsar sites.
• Restoration of degraded wetlands and peatland ecosystems.
• Reduced impacts of invasive species and unsustainable land use.
• Stronger institutional coordination for Ramsar Site management.
• Increased participation of local communities in biodiversity monitoring and conservation.
• Enhanced climate resilience through sustainable enterprises and clean energy adoption.
• Improved environmental stewardship among local governments and surrounding communities.

NatureUganda will lead key components of the project, including wetland restoration, biodiversity monitoring, ecological assessments, and community engagement. Working alongside project partners, NatureUganda will contribute its expertise in conservation science, community-based natural resource management, and long-term biodiversity monitoring to ensure the project is built on sound scientific evidence and strong local participation.