Among the ten new biospheres reserves in the world, Mount Elgon conservation area has been designated.
Mount Elgon shared between Uganda and Kenya joins the 748 sites in 134 countries, including 23 transboundary sites according to a UNESCO statement.
“Biosphere reserves are tangible proof that humanity can live in balance with nature” the Director-General of UNESCO said.
Audrey Azoulay in a statement on Wednesday said that since 1971, this community-led programme has successfully found a model for development where people live well and biodiversity is respected. I am pleased that this year, 11 more sites are joining this powerful network, which is more relevant and necessary than ever.
After the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme are the Programme’s governing body composed of 34 UNESCO Member States meet at UNESCO Headquarters on 12 to 15th June 2023, they decided to add Mount Elgon as UNESCO member.
Biosphere Reserve are designated by UNESCO in consultation with host governments where locals work with biodiversity and its sustainable use. For an area to be designated, the government must affirm conservation protecting, wildlife, habitats, and the environment among others.
Since 2003, the designation of the Mount Elgon Transboundary Biosphere Reserve consolidates the water tower functions of the Mount Elgon Biosphere Reserve in Kenya.
The areas of Mount Elgon Biosphere Reserve in Uganda provide a range of ecosystem functions and supports forests, wildlife, and livelihoods in the area.
What are attractions in Mount Elgon?
Birding.
Mount Elgon is a home of over 300 bird species and has an exceptional diversity of ecosystems as well as plant and animal species distributed across four distinct ecological zones characterized by different vegetation types like the mixed montane forest, bamboo and low canopy forest, sub-alpine montane heath, and alpine moorland varying with altitude. While mount Elgon inhabits rodent species likes Lammergeyer.
Cultural encounters.
Mt Elgon is home to two dominant tribes, the Bagishu and the Sabiny and other ethnic minorities namely Benet and the Ndorobos all spread across the eight districts of Bukwo, Kapchorwa and Kween for Sabinys and Bulambuli, Sironko, Mbale, Bududa, mnafwa and Namisindwa occupied by the Bagishu or Bamasaba.
Communities rely on gathering forest products such as firewood, fodder, medicinal plants, vegetables, bamboo shoots, stakes, mushrooms, thatching grass and salt for their cattle. Several community conservation initiatives and programmes have been implemented as a way of securing community support for conserving the ecosystem.
Wildlife.
Mount Elgon is a home for various animals including the rock and tree hyraxes, blue monkeys, elephants, buffalo, Defassa waterbuck, oribi, bushbuck, duiker, forest hog, bush pig, leopard, civet and serval cats, serval cats, spotted hyena and aardvark. These can be spotted during hiking or doing game drive
Uganda has two Biosphere Reserves. That is Queen Elizabeth national park and Mount Elgon national park
About Queen Elizabeth national park.
Queen Elizabeth was designated by UNESCO as Biosphere Reserve in 1979. The park is the second largest and oldest park in Uganda from Murchison falls national park. The park is a home of various mammals like warthogs, buffalos, elephants, lions, leopards, kobs water bucks, bush bucks and many various bird species like grey crowned crane, hamerkop, kingfishers, white egrets, flamingoes, owls, Egyptian birds, and many more. It is best for boat cruise, game drive, nature walk and cultural encounters.
About mount Elgon
Mountain Elgon was designated in 2005 as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. However, there are a number of other sites proposed for nomination including Mt Moroto, Budongo Forest, Mabira, Timu Forest, Morungole, Kalinzu-Kasyoha-Kitomi, Bungoma, Sango Bay, Zoka, Kadam, Lake Mburo and Lake Victoria Basin among others. Splitting between Kenya and Uganda, the transboundary biosphere reserve has a population of nearly 1,150,000.
Mount Elgon is a home of a diverse population of Sabaot, Luhya, Teso, Bagisu as well as other indigenous peoples and local communities who depend predominately on agriculture for both their livelihood and their subsistence.
Why Mount Elgon is a UNESCO?
- To secure community support for conserving the ecosystem by implementing several communities conservation initiatives and programmes.
- Each biosphere reserve promotes innovative local solutions, in order to conserve biodiversity.
- Preserve ecosystems and tackle climate change while improving people’s livelihoods such as by developing agro-ecology.
- Renewable sources of energy and green industries.
The other reserves elevated by alongside Mount Elgon include Korup Rainforest Biosphere Reserve in Cameroon, Central African Republic’s Biosphere Reserve, Tribugá-Cupica-Baudó Biosphere Reserve in Columbia, Onon-Balj Biosphere Reserve in Mongolia and Germany’s Drömling Biosphere Reserve among others.
