Uganda according to the ‘Living Planet Report and Intergovernmental Science Policy Plartform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ is performing poorly as far as conservation and protection of environmental is concerned.
Carried out by the World Wide Fund for Nature(WWF), the report indicates that Uganda is among the top African countries labeled red as a result of mostly human activities that have overdue caused harm to nature.
According to WWF,water bodies world over contain 300 million tons of plastic and over 8 million is added every single year,when broken down into micro plastics,these are entering our food chains.The average person may be ingesting as many as 2,000 micro plastic particles every week.
Experts are concerned that when these practices continue as they are and nothing is done about it,there may be more plastic in water bodies than fish by 2050.
It is in that regard that WWF took the initiative to launch the Earth Hour campaign so as to try curb some of the bad practices against nature including deforestation and use of plastics among others.
While speaking at the launch of Happy Hour 2021 on Thursday in Kampala,David Duli,WWF Country Director explained that since it’s launch,Happy Hour has greatly been that one of a kind campaign that has helped inspire and build tremendous movement,causing positive action towards the protection of nature both locally and internationally.
“Since it’s launch in 2007,the Earth Hour campaign has helped to inspire conversations around the World to raise awareness of the potential threat posed by climate change, helping to build a movement that has led to positive action at local,regional and global levels.”
Mr Duli also acknowledged that individuals are not putting enough efforts to address the huge threats faced by nature.
“Surely,we are not putting enough effort to address the massive threats nature now faces and how everyone of us must play our part in protecting our one shared home and in turn, protecting ourselves.”
The Earth Hour campaign aims at reducing pollution or Rivers,Lakes,Swamps and the environment, conserving natural resources through limiting production of plastics and and increasing awareness on part of local stakeholders (distributors, retailers and consumers) of the impact of their lifestyles on the environment among others
Katumba Wamala, Commissioner Uganda Scouts said that,”Unfortunately,the overexploitation and destruction of our resources paints a grim picture.A worrying trend that threatens our own existence.
Globally, nature loss and wildlife decline is occurring at an alarming rate.Wildlife populations have declined on average by 60 percent in the past 40 years, largely due to threats and pressures linked to human activity.
Katumba however cited that such practices are a great warning that nature is in a state of emergency.
“As we develop infrastructure in our country, let’s not destroy our nature but rather support it,If we are not careful,our development will undermine natural assets that underpins nature and the crucial eco-system services that we all benefit from.”
