KAMPALA, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- As the world commemorates World Migratory Bird Day on Saturday, conservationists in Uganda are striving to protect the habitats of the birds when they visit the east African country during the winter season elsewhere in the world.
Achilles Byaruhanga, executive director of Nature Uganda, told Xinhua by telephone on Saturday that thousands of migratory birds have started arriving in the country.
He said the birds are from south and central Africa as well as Europe.
"Most of those long-range migratory birds go to breed and later return to Uganda because our environment and climate is suitable throughout the years," Byaruhanga said. "We do not have summer and winter like those other countries."
However, as Uganda pursues its development, the habitats of the birds are being damaged. Wetlands are being damaged.
Byaruhanga said through public awareness and education events in the country, people are told about the importance of birds and their habitats.
"Birds are not only important for tourism but also for agriculture. Most people do not also understand these movements of birds. We have to tell them that we are in a global village, where birds keep moving depending on seasons," he said.
"The public needs to know that to keep these birds alive we have to protect their habitats such as wetlands, lakes and forests," he added.
Simplicity Gessa, a communications officer at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a state agency charged with conservation of wildlife, said there are efforts to ensure that the ecosystem is kept clean and as natural as possible.
"On the river banks, we undertake regular health monitoring activities. We also take strategic interest in unprotected areas through working with local governments to ensure that habitats are not degraded," Gessa said.
Uganda has over 1,057 bird species, according to UWA.
"We are a unique country with more than 50 percent of all species in Africa. For instance, there is a Shoebill in Mabamba swamp in central Uganda. Such birds are not common in the world," Gessa said.
Bird-watching contributes part of the 1.4 billion U.S. dollars that Uganda earns from tourism annually.
