Study of natural disasters and of their impact on the environmental condition Rwenzori Mountain region — Науково-технічний журнал «Техногенно-екологічна безпека»

Study of natural disasters and of their impact on the environmental condition Rwenzori Mountain region

R. Katutu, B. R. Nyamweha, C. Kabaseke, M. S. Koojo, J. Sekajugo, K. Martens, L. Jacobs, J. Maes, M. Kervyn

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.2582759

Received: 20 January 2019

Accepted: 23 February 2019

Published online: 25 February 2019

ABSTRACT

Rwenzori Mountain is located in western part of Uganda and has richness in biodiversity which include many natural habitats of endangered species and unusual flora. On the mountains grows 278 species of woody plants, 81 % are endemic to East Africa. Natural hazards are becoming frequent along the slopes and contribute to the decline in biodiversity. In order to ensure environmental safety, the places of natural disasters, their causes and frequency should be set. This study is conducted for hazard registration and assessment the state of the environment along the Rwenzori slopes in districts of Kabarole, Kasese and Bundibugyo within a period of February 2017 to March 2018. Geo-observers used smart phones to record the coordinates where disasters occurred and they filled of close and open questionnaire with aid of KoBo application. Quantum GIS software was used for analyzing and managing received geospatial information, as well as its visualization. SPSS software (version 16.0) was used to generate descriptive statistics in frequency of disaster occurrence. Kasese slopes experienced 177 landslides, 29 windstorms 21 flash floods, 13 hailstorms, 1 earthquake, 6 lightening incidences and 14 occurrences of drought. While Kabarole slopes the least occurrences of disasters experienced. The most frequent of the disasters on the slopes of Rwenzori were landslides – 214 incidents, then windstorms – 51 incidents and flash floods – 36 incidents. Research shows that planting trees and shrubs can prevent or reduce the effects of several types of natural disasters. For develop natural protection technology and reduce the effects of natural disasters in the future is necessary to study potential of Ficus, Albizia julibrissin, Markhamia lutea and their characteristics such as growth rate and density of the root system and of the crowns, water absorption ability of the root system, mechanical strength and elasticity of tree (for that to resist the storm wind), etc.

Keywords: landslides; droughts; flash flood; hazard registration; environmental safety; volcano.

REFERENCES

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15. Mulinde, C., Mwanjalolo, M., Twesigomwe, E., Egeru, A. (2016). Meteorological drought occurrence and severity in Uganda. In book: Disasters and Climate Resilience in Uganda: Processes, Knowledge and Practices. Chapter: XI, Publisher: UNDP, Editors: Bob. R. Nakileza, Yazidhi Bamutaze, Paul Mukwaya. Available: https://repository.ruforum.org/documents/meteorological-drought-occurrence-and-severity-uganda.

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ЛІТЕРАТУРА

1. WWF: World wide fund for Nature. Rwenzori Mountains Conservation and Environmental Management. 2010. Available: http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_offices/uganda/wwf_uganda_our_solutions/index.cfm?uProjectID=UG0023.

2. Nsubuga F. N. W., Namutebi E. N., Nsubuga-Ssenfuma M. Water resources of Uganda: An assessment and review // Journal of Water Resource and Protection. 2014. Vol. 6. P. 1297–1315. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2014.614120.

3. Jacobs L., Maes J., Merten K. et al. Reconstruction of a flash flood event through a multi hazard approach: focus on Rwenzori mountains, Uganda // Natural hazards. 2016. Vol. 84, Issue 2. P. 851–876. doi: 10.1007/s11069-016-2458-y.

4. Kervyn M., Jacobs L., Maes J. et al. Landslide resilience in equatorial Africa: Moving beyond problem identification! // Belgeo. 2015. Vol. 1. P. 1–22. Available: http://belgeo.revues.org/15944.

5. Erickson J. Ecosystem effects of biodiversity loss could rival impacts of climate change, pollution // Michigan News. 2012. Vol. 2. Available: https://news.umich.edu/ecosystem-effects-of-biodiversity-loss-could-rival-impacts-of-climate-change-pollution/.

6. Jacobs L., Dewitte O., Poesen J. et al. The Rwenzori Mountains, a landslide-prone region? // Landslides. 2016. Vol. 13, Issue 3. P. 519–536. doi: 10.1007/s10346-015-0582-5.

7. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Available: https:www.edf.org.

8. 2009 UNISDR terminology on disaster risk reduction. Available: https://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/publications/7817.

9. Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). 2014. Available: https://www.ubos.org.

10. FAO. FAOSTAT. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2011. Available: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home.

11. Bwambale B., Muhumuza M., Martine N. Traditional ecological knowledge and flood risk management: a preliminary case study of the Rwenzori Jàmbá // Journal of Disaster Risk Studies. 2018. Vol. 10, Issue 1. P. a536. doi: 10.4102/jamba.v10i1.536.

12. Binego A. K. Causes of River Nyamambwa floods // New Vision Uganda (from 10.01.2014). Available: https://www.newvision.co.ug.

13. International Water Association. Available: https://www.iwapublishing.com/.

14. Kaggwa R., Hogan R., Hall B. Enhancing the contribution of weather, climate and climate change to growth, employment and prosperity // UNDP/NEMA/UNEP Poverty Environment Initiative, Uganda. 2009. Available: https://www.unpei.org/sites/default/files/e_library_documents/uganda-contribution-weather-climate-climatechange-final.pdf.

15. Mulinde C., Mwanjalolo M., Twesigomwe E., Egeru A. Meteorological drought occurrence and severity in Uganda. In book: Disasters and Climate Resilience in Uganda: Processes, Knowledge and Practices. Chapter: XI, Publisher: UNDP, Editors: Bob. R. Nakileza, Yazidhi Bamutaze, Paul Mukwaya. 2016. Available: https://repository.ruforum.org/documents/meteorological-drought-occurrence-and-severity-uganda.

16. Nissen K. M., Leckebush G. C., Pinto J. G., Ulbrich U. Mediterranean cyclones and windstorms in changing climate // Regional Environmental change. 2013. Vol. 14, Issue 5. P. 1873–1890. doi: 10.1007/s10113-012-0400-8.

17. Berg P. The important role of trees in combating coastal erosion, wind and salt spray – a new Zealand case study. New Zealand coastal erosion study, August 2006. Available: http://www.fao.org/forestry/11283-0f0bb329900ba7bdfd3d31af07f337f85.pdf.

18. Trees against the Wind. A Pacific Northwest Extension Publication Washington State University, University of Idaho, Oregon State University. PNW005. 2003. Available: http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/pnw0005/pnw0005.pdf.

19. UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Available: http://www.unesco-uganda.ug/files/downloads/Ethquakes%20in%20Uganda.pdf.