Assessement of awareness and attitude of the community towards wetland conservation

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate the influence of community awareness and attitudes on wetland conservation in Rukiiri Sub-country, Ibanda district. The method used for data collection was interviews which were administered to 70 respondents of which 60 were local community members and 10 were local leaders and district officials to achieve all the objectives. Field observation and photography were also used as supplementary data collection efforts. The findings suggest that 84.3% of the respondents interviewed were aware of the services and functions provided by wetland while 15.7% were not aware. This indicates high level of awareness of wetland functions. This need for conservation of the wetland was supported by 82.6%, from both kyanguhanda and Katehe,75% from Rwobuhungye parish from shifting their activities from wetlands, 17.4% from kyanguhanda,25% from Rwobuhungye ,16.7% from Katehe parish were not willing to conserve the wetland despite its uses, values and benefits. Wetland reclamation was supported by 15.7% of respondents, 34.3%respondents did not support wetland reclamation while 50% of respondents didn’t mind about reclamation of wetlands. Concerning means through which information about wetland conservation received by people, 76% of respondents heard it on radios, 10% of respondents read it in newspapers, 4.3% of respondents heard it from local leaders, 10% of respondents saw it on televisions The study results show that awareness is still low, attitude is relatively positive though participation is low. The study therefore, concludes that environmental organisations and institutions are not effective since local communities revealed less awareness and there is low mass involvement into wetland conservation activitiesthus the research recommended that sensitization of the people about the wetland legislation, management and sustainable utilization should be undertaken ,alternative land should be looked for to ensure that people carrying out activities like brick laying and agriculture farming may shift from wetlands to these places transforming in wetland conservation as well as public participation should be enforced in order to punish the law breakers all the geared towards wetland conservation and management