In an exciting initiative driven by Adrift, dozens of mid-river islands at the Victorian source of the Nile will be protected for future generations to enjoy. Since Adrift introduced commercial rafting to Uganda in 1996, the company has witnessed accelerated degradation of the river banks and islands along the Nile between lakes Victoria and Kyoga. Despite statutory protection through NEMA (National Environmental Management Association) steep river banks have been completely degraded with virgin tropical forest replaced by maize and cassava. In many cases, the land adjacent to the river is so steep that topsoil has been washed away in the rains after only one or two seasons and the dramatically degraded soils are left to support whatever they can.
The innovative Wildwaters Reserve project has already led to thousands of indigenous musisi, mvule and ficus trees replanted on the islands. Local farmers, who previously cut giant hardwood trees for charcoal and cultivated food crops on the islands, have been compensated in cash for the loss of their land and given alternative land on the mainland in lieu of the land they used to cultivate on the islands. In addition to the short-term benefits outlined, the project will ensure that the local communities benefit directly from the conservation project on a long-term basis. At the heart of the project, eco-friendly tourist accommodation will focus on training and employing staff from the adjacent communities. Volunteer groups will continue to support community projects and cultural centres built on either side of the river will help empower the families in these rural areas to benefit directly from increasing visitor numbers to the area.
A ‘green levy’ to be introduced for river users will help to support Wildwaters Reserve financially and ensure that those benefiting from the incredible scenery on the Victoria source of the Nile contribute directly to it’s preservation. The Nile continues to thunder amidst the heavily forested islands that mark some of the largest commercially rafted rapids in the world. Wildwaters Reserve will ensure that where the mist of the Nile now drifts over severely eroded rocks, the stumps of giant hardwood trees and sick looking maize, once again indigenous forest will take hold and provide a refuge for the incredible avian fauna for which the Nile is famous.
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Well done Cam! am so pleased to see the project coming to fruition. I recall the initial hostility from NEMA which angered me into writing to New Vision about it…you might remembe I sent you a copy, but they didn’t print it of course. When I come on my next visit in October I shall be bringing two friends on their first visit to Uganda, and I shall make a point of showing them what you’ve achieved at Kalagala.
regards, Stewart Mackie