This paper was prepared and presented during the Bunyoro Peace Dialogue, which was held at Sir Toto Owiny Primary School in Kikuube district in Uganda. The dialogue was organized by Kibale District Civil Society Organizations Network (KCSON), other Civil Society Organizations in the greater Kibaale and Bunyoro sub-region as whole in partnership with District Local Governments in the region and other partners as part of the several engagements in commemoration of the International Day of Peace, held on 21st September 2019.

1. The nexus between Climate change and natural
resources rights. What should be done?
Prepared and presented By Dr. Joshua Zake (Ph.D),
Executive Director, Environmental Alert (EA) during the Peace Dialogue at Sir Toto Owiny
Primary School, Kikuube District.
Organized by Civil Society Organisations in the greater Kibaale and Bunyoro sub region as a
whole in partnership with District Local Governments in the region and other partners. As part of
the celebration events for the International Day of Peace -2019.
For further information:
Email: ed@envalert.org or joszake@gmail.com
P. O. Box 11259 Kampala, Uganda, Tel: 0414510215;
Website: http://www.envalert.org

2. Outline of the presentation
A) Introduction;
*key definitions for terms used
B) The nexus between climate change and natural resources rights;
C) Key emerging issues;
D) Conclusions and take home message;
E) About Environmental Alert.

3. A) Introduction
Key definitions
Climate change: Any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as
a result of human activity (Uganda Climate change policy, Ministry of Water & Environment,
2014)
For instance, changes in temperature, rainfall patterns – prolonged droughts or floods
Climate change is mainly caused by the production of green house gases (e.g. carbondioxide,
nitrous oxide) from human activities including agricultural production, industrialization, burning of
fossil and bio fuels, and deforestation among others (Stern, 2006).
These gases react with the thin layer (Ozone) which protects the earth from direct heat from the
sun. When this layer is depleted, sun rays hit directly on the earth resulting in temperature raises.
Furthermore, the accumulation of the green house gases results into a green house effect
by which the gases absorb and reflect sun heat that in the long term brings about global
warming.
This overall influences temperature on the earth resulting in climate change. Some of the change
manifest as prolonged droughts, and unreliable rainfall.
Illustrative explanation of climate change phenomenon
during a community meeting in Zoka, Adjumani district.
Source: EA Climate Issues Paper, (2010).

4. A) Introduction
Natural resources are natural assets (raw materials) occurring in nature that can be used for economic, production or consumption (OECD,
2001). They are several examples – wetlands, forests, minerals, land,…
Human Rights are the rights that all people have by virtue of being human beings.
Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA/RBA) to development means that human rights standards govern project design, planning, implementation
and outcomes (United Nations, 2006).
HRBA/RBA is a means of equitable redistribution/sharing and development. It provides a framework and approach for delivering natural resources
rights.
Natural resource rights: These are derived and linked to the fundamental human rights such as right to food, property, shelter, life; right to
clean and healthy environment, …
The natural resources (land, wetlands, forests, lakes, rivers, minerals,..) deliver on all these human rights, therefore people should have
ownership, access to and sustainable/wise-use of the natural resources.
Nexus – connection and or linkage between parts of the systems or group of entities. Thus, in this case it’s the inter-connection between
climate change and natural resources rights.

5. B) The nexus between climate change and natural resources
rights
Climate change and natural resources rights are inter-linked.
Natural resources are known for climate regulation – for instance, forest, wetlands & soils are known for cleaning up of green house
gases (i.e. carbon dioxide) through Carbon sequestration and storage; wetlands are known for micro-temperature regulation; Forests
are known for providing the catchment for rainfall formation;
Climate change negatively impacts on the natural resources (both direct & indirect) there by compromising their provision of products
(oxgen, biomass – firewood, food, fiber, building materials) and services (carbon sequestration, rainfall formation, temperature
regulation), and hence certainly impacting on the natural resource rights (right to life, food, clean & health environment,…).
For example, negative impacts of climate change e.g. prolonged droughts results in low land productivity, food insecurity and famine –
there by compromising the right to food
Natural resource rights can be augmented and delivered through appropriate legal and governance regimes e.g. land, forestry, wetland,
energy policies & laws.
-Collaborative forest management guidelines; Community based natural resources management.

6. C) Key emerging issues
Key Challenges
1) Rampant degradation of environment and natural resources – due to several drivers: high demand for products & services due to
bulging population growth; agricultural production, industrialization, human residential settlement, ..
2) Vulnerability to the adverse impacts of climate change and external shocks. Besides, there is lack of a national vulnerability
assessment;
3) Increased incidence of climate change impacts yet there is limited investment in preparedness and weak adaptation capacity at community
levels.
4) A large proportion of Uganda (about 94%) still depending on biomass (using rudimentary techniques) for their energy needs. This
contributes to continues degradation and loss of the natural resources especially forests – thereby compromising the delivery of natural
resources rights.

7. C) Key emerging issues
Key Challenges
5) Weak community adaptation capacity to climate change impacts – often this promotes further encroachment on the natural resources
(e.g. wetlands, forests) as a coping mechanism for survival.
6) High rates of natural resources degradation, thus national forest cover stands at 9% reducing from 24% as it was in 1999 (Sector
performance report by the MWE 2018). Its not surprising as the annual forest loss is 250,000 Ha (MWE, 2016). Wetlands national coverage
has reduced from 13% in 1994 to about 8% by 2016. Hence, the continuous loss of the natural resources means that the services and
products are lost there by compromising the natural resource rights
7) Weak natural resource governance – e.g. low budget allocation & investment for sustainable natural resources management (e.g. as at
financial year 2018/19, Water and Environment gets about 4% of the National budget); Illegal activities within protected natural resources (e.g.
central and local forest reserves); weak implementation of collaborative natural resource management arrangements; Unclear boundaries for
forest reserves resulting into conflicts with adjacent communities;

8. C) Key emerging issues
Emerging opportunities
1) Very high demand for natural resources based products and services. The demand increases with increase in the population
2) Ongoing review of policies, laws and institutional frameworks for natural resources management e.g. Energy, forests, wetlands
3) Development of the National Development Plan III
4) Establishment of the Parliamentary committee on Climate Change
5) Review of collaborative forest management guidelines by the National Forestry Authority
6) Increasing influx of refugees greatly impacting on the environment and natural resources in the host communities.
This is largely due to high demands for energy i.e. fuel/charcoal, fire wood; building materials; water. Situation is
worsened because often the preparedness by host communities is inadequate. A comprehensive National Refugee
Response Plan developed, but requires adequate resources allocation for implementation.

9. D) Conclusions and take home message
1) Good Climate promotes natural resources growth, survival.
2) Natural resources regulate climate.
3) Climate change impacts on natural resources and natural resources rights.
4) Natural resources should be conserved and sustainably used & or managed to contribute towards addressing climate change for
continuous delivery of natural resource rights.
5) This will be achieved through prioritization of natural resources with the right investments in terms of financing to ensure
sustainable management at different scales.
6) Good natural resources governance must be promoted to effective deliver the various natural resources rights at all scales.
7) We must be good custodians and stewards for the environment and natural resources in order to effectively and sustainably
deliver the natural resource rights (i.e. life, food, clean and healthy environment).

10. D) Conclusions and take home message
8) The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; the National Planning Authority and Development Partners reflect and re-
think the model/formulae applied for financial allocation to the Water and Environment sector, among other priority sectors. Thus, additional
resources should be allocated to the Water and Environment Sector. This should be to the tune of 9 times the current funding investment (SSIP,
2018). This will enable investment in interventions for achievement of he National Development Plan targets in respect to restoration and conservation of
the Natural resources thereby delivering on the natural resources rights.
9) The Cabinet, Parliament and Presidency should fast-track the National Climate Change bill into law to provide the framework for supporting
enforcement of the climate change policy aspirations – commitments and strategies for effective deliver of the natural resources rights at different scales.
10) The Ministry of Water and Environment; Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development; and the Cabinet should fast-track the review of the
following natural resources policies & laws (including the guidelines & regulations for natural resources access & benefit sharing) for implementation to
effective deliver the natural resource rights: Draft wetlands policy and bill, 2019; Draft forestry policy and bill; Draft energy policy and bill.
11) The Climate Change Department, Ministry of Water and Environment, Government of Uganda and Development Partners should conduct a
national Climate change vulnerability assessment as a reference to guide decision making for investments in for advancing community
adaptation and resilience against climate change impacts.
12) The Ministry of Water and Environment and Development Partners should develop and implement Natural Resource based
enterprises value chains for community livelihood improvement and environment and natural resource restoration in landscapes and
catchments. For example: Shear nut butter, Apiary/bee keeping, tourism,….

11. E) About Environmental Alert
Environmental Alert Vision:
Resilient and dignified communities managing their environment and natural resources sustainably.
Environmental Alert Mission:
To advocate for an enabling environment, sustainable natural resource management and food security for
targeted communities through empowerment and policy engagement.

12. E). About Environmental Alert
Environmental Alert was founded in 1988 and is officially registered Non Government
Organization with board. Thus, in 2018 – EA made 30 years of contribution to food security
and sustainable environment and natural resources management in Uganda.
Environmental Alert is a 1st prize winner of the Energy globe award for environmental
sustainability- 2005 under the category, earth.
Environmental Alert is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) and a Member of The IUCN National Committee for Uganda.
Environmental Alert envisions, ‘Resilient and dignified communities, managing their
environment and natural resources sustainably.’
Environmental Alert’s mission is to, ‘Contribute to improved livelihoods of vulnerable
communities by Enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainable natural resources
management.
Further information about Environmental Alert is available at: http://envalert.org/
Environmental Alert as a Secretariat mobilizes and coordinates 250 CSOs/CBOs for joint
action engagement at national and local levels through the various CSO Networks
Environmental Alert hosts Secretariat for
following networks:
a) The Network for Civil Society
Organizations in Environment &
Natural Resources Sector (ENR-
CSO Network) http://enr-cso.org/ ;
b) Uganda Forestry Working Group
http://ufwg.envalert.org/;
c) The Standards Development
Group; and
d) Promoting Local Innovation in
ecologically oriented agriculture
and natural resources
management (PROLINNOVA-
Uganda Network)
http://www.prolinnova.net/uganda.
e) National Renewable Energy CSO
network

13. E). About Environmental Alert
Scale of Implementation:
• As at end of June 2019, EA led interventions reached 28 districts across the
country (i.e. 20 in the Albertine graben --Arua, Nebbi, Koboko, Moyo, Adjumani,
Maracha, Masindi, Hoima, Buliisa, Kagadi, Kyenjojo, Kibaale, Kasese, Bushenyi,
Rubirizi, Mitooma, Rukingiri, Kabarole, Kisoro and Bundibugyo, Rakai); Kampala,
Arua, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, …
• National level policy engagement on Agriculture and Environment and Natural
Resources Management Issues
• EA as a Secretariat for various mobilized and coordinated over 250 CSOs/CBOs for
joint action engagement at national and local levels through CSO Networks such as
Uganda Forest Working Group - http://ufwg.envalert.org/ ; Standards Development
Group; Environment and Natural Resources -CSO Network - http://enr-cso.org/ ;
PROLINNOVA-Uganda Network - http://www.prolinnova.net/uganda ; and CSO
Network on renewable Energy in Uganda.
• Area wide awareness engagements especially through print media and radio – thus,
reached about 500000 people ( i.e. 270,000 through radio campaigns and 120,000
through print media & 110000 through social media.
Thank you for listening. For God
and my County.