Assessment of the Economic Importance of Wetlands to the Local People: A Case Study of Nyamahundo Wetland in Kanungu Town Council Kanungu District

Abstract

The study focused on the assessing the economic importance of Nyamahundo wetland to the local people in Kanungu town council, Kanungu district. The study investigated the extraction and the use of the resources from Nyamahundo wetland and assessed the conservation measures on Nyamahundo wetland. The methods used for data collection were questionnaires and interviews which were administered to local community members, local leaders and district officials. Field observation and photography were also used. The findings suggest that respondents were aware of the values of Nyamahundo wetland with 96% of the respondents who mentioned that a wetland is a source of food, where vegetables were the most obtained from the wetland. Other values were; source of medicine, raw materials, acting as grazing grounds, source of revenue to the government, help in climate modification, providing security and acting as hunting grounds. Respondents represented by 73% agreed to know some of the programs aimed at conserving the wetland. They were also asked about their opinions on what could be the best way to sustainably use the wetland and most of them mentioned conducting sensitization programs by either government or any concerned relevant agency and this was represented by 50%. The study therefore revealed that Nyamahundo wetland is of great values to the local population, the government and local leaders also benefit from wetlands resources through revenue collection.