NaFIRRI - Climate Change Project

The livelihoods of fishers are fishing, fish processing and trade but are now limited due to
decline in the quantity and variety of fish associated with changes in climate and other stressors
Satellite images from UNEP show that Lake Wamala shrunk to about one half its area between 1984 and 1995
and increased between 1995 and 2008 but has not fully recovered with water gauges still on land by 2013
Climate variability and change is causing floods and drought, affecting circulations of oxygen and
nutrients in water, productivity processes, fish, crop and livestock production and livelihoods
Plant and animal food of fishes is dominated by types that survive under low oxygen and
unpredictable nutrient conditions
The composition of fishes has shifted from dominance of tilapias to the African catfish and lungfish
which are tolerant to low oxygen conditions and can adjust to the changed food conditions
Cultivation to the edge of the water, extensive harvesting of papyrus, and spraying of pesticides
exposes the water to siltation and contamination and should be managed in accordance with existing laws
Communities have adapted to the changes in fisheries by exploiting emerging fishes
like the African catfish and the lungfish, growing crops and grazing livestock in the lakeside areas
Communities have adapted to drought by practicing irrigation and this is being
promoted by introducing more effective and affordable systems like manual irrigation pumps
More innovative communities around Lake Wamala have increased their income beyond fishing
by diversifying to high values crops like pineapples, tomatoes, oranges and other horticultural crops
Mr Swabi, although still fishing has diversified to crop farming, chicken and zero grazing cattle
and practices drip irrigation during drought and has even been able to acquire a motorcycle
Mr Lule has hang up his nets and diversified to pineapples and livestock and
has been able to purchase a pick-up van for marketing his crops
Some communities around Lake Kawi have diversified to high value crops, keeping a variety of livestock
and collect water from roof tops for watering crops but to a lesser extent than Wamala
The impacts of climate variability and change and contamination of the water can be reduced
by planting appropriate trees in lakeside zones and preserving the papyrus fringes
The communities are being sensitized on these impacts and adaptation strategies to increase their resilience
to impacts of climate variability and change and sustain their livelihoods

Climate Change Project Collaborators