On Monday 5th June 2023, Uganda joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Environment Day (WED). This is a day designated by the United Nations to highlight that the protection and health of the environment is of major importance as it affects the well-being of societies and economic development throughout the world. The Official Global Events were hosted by Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in partnership with the Netherlands under the theme Solutions to Plastic Pollution with a campaign #BeatPlasticPollution.

In Uganda, the national events were organised under the theme #StopPlasticPollutionToday and these were kickstarted by celebrating the International Day for Biodiversity (IDB). Several events ranging from physical, virtual and hybrid workshops/ symposia, plastic clean-ups, tree planting activities among others were also held. The celebrations culminated  in an event held at Kololo Independence Grounds and graced by the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Robinah Nabbanja.

At this year’s WED celebrations, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Uganda was officially recognised for its pivotal role in biodiversity research and policy development by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). NEMA is the principal agency in Uganda, charged with the responsibility of coordinating, monitoring, regulating, and supervising environmental management on behalf of the Government. This role in biodiversity research and policy development includes WCS’ work on the COMBO+ Programme, funded by the Agence Française de Developpement (AFD) and the Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondiale (FFEM). The COMBO Programme is now in its second phase and supports six countries in Africa, including Uganda, and Asia to develop policy and implementation mechanisms to ensure the rigorous application of the Mitigation Hierarchy and improve the integration of biodiversity and people’s needs in project development. This is to help reconcile economic development and biodiversity conservation and to achieve no net loss or net gain outcomes of biodiversity in line with overarching biodiversity targets.

WCS has a long-standing relationship with the Government of Uganda, and this has cultivated mutual respect for either party. As such, WCS has been central to the promotion of evidence-based information to inform decision-making by the Government. Over the years, WCS has signed Memoranda of Understanding with Government of Uganda Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) like NEMA, Uganda Wildlife Authority, and the National Forest Authority to foster collaboration, especially on aspects of wildlife conservation  and the enactment of regulations for the sustainable use and management of Uganda’s natural resources. The award attests to the positive contribution WCS has in Uganda's biodiversity conservation space.   Dr Simon Nampindo received the recognition plaque on behalf the WCS team, funders and implementation partners.

At the WED 2023 climax event in Kololo, WCS Uganda also exhibited some of the work, mainly documents that have been developed and published by WCS in collaboration with the Government and other partners. These included the National Guidelines for Biodiversity and Social Offsets (2022) and the National Biodiversity and Social Offset Strategy (2019) which were developed by NEMA with the technical and financial support of the COMBO project and additional co-financing from NORAD. On visiting the WCS/NEMA stall during the exhibition, the Rt Hon. Prime Minister remarked that these were wonderful outputs that ought to be widely shared with stakeholders especially the higher echelons of decision-making to keep them abreast with the evolving science in the conservation space. With such interest and recognition, we can only commit to continue to stand with wildlife.

Photos: 

1 and 2: Dr Simon Nampindo, WCS Uganda Programme Country Director receives the recognition plaque from the Minister of Water and Environment, Mr Sam Cheptoris on 5th June at Kololo Independence Grounds

3: Prime Minister, Rt Hon Robinah Nabanja visits the WCS/NEMA stall during WED exhibitions at Kololo