Murago wetland ecosystem and its role to enhance climate-resilient to local community in Rwanda

Abstract

Wetlands are important ecological zones that support the life of important fauna and flora through its water and its fertile soil. Wetland Ecosystems play an important role of protecting its environment from climate hazard and enhance the livelihood of its surrounding population. This study seeks to evaluate the status and management of Murago wetland ecosystem to enhance climate-resilient local communities. Wetland cover types and changes over time was detected using Landsat imagery ages acquired in four different years; 1984, 1995, 2002, and 2018. Focus Group discussions (FGDs) with two cooperatives members of farmers and fishers helped us to identify activities which degraded Murago wetland, and prioritize the activities which rehabilitate or protect Murago wetland environment. Field survey and observation has been done through curved line transect, walking around Murago wetland and making observations using data sheet to record information, camera to record photos, and GPS to record location coordinates. The results showed that the total area of Murago catchment estimated at 15,881 ha was dominated by grassland in years 1984 and 2018 with estimated area of 8,591 ha and 8,425 ha respectively; whereas bare land dominates the landscape in years 1995 and 2002 with estimated surface area of 12,550 ha and 5,439 ha respectively. It was also found that 40 bird species and 21 bird species among them are water birds in the wetland. Among aquatic animals recorded in Murago wetland; they are three species of fishes Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Common catfish (Clarias gariepinus), and Mamba (Protopterus aethiopicus). The four common plant species recorded in wetland are; Papyrus, Typha latifolia, Ludwiga abyssinica, and Polygonum pulshrum. water hyacinth was found to be the major cause of the reduction on the number of the biodiversity in Murago wetland ecosystem. The supporting services are the most provided by Murago wetland at the rate of 69.7%; and the services provided the least are cultural services at the rate of 56.3%. it was revealed that Murago wetland is degraded by the overexploitation mainly the agricultural activities; and he rehabilitating activities include small scale irrigation water pump, tree plantation, dams, buffer zone marked with contour ditches, progressive terraces and trenches, agroforestry, bamboo around the buffer zone, trees planted by farmers in their agriculture land, iv removal of water hyacinths, training to the famers, etc. Therefore, this study contributed on community livelihood improvement, climate change mitigation, and sustainable wetland management practices as the fulfillment of the core principles of EbA (Ecosystem-based Adaptation) approach.