The Natural Resources department is one of the departments in all Local Government in Uganda. It was created around 2002 and is headed by the District Natural Resource Officer and its main objectives of the department are:
-To promote and ensure sustainable natural resource use and management. The natural resources include land, water/wetlands, savannah woodland and plantation, and forest in specific reserves.
-To guide the utilization of all the natural resources in the district
The department is consisted of the following sub-sectors:
-Environment and Wetlands sub-sector
-Land Management Sector (Survey, physical planning, cartography, valuation, registration of titles)
The role played by both men and women in the utilization and management of natural resources and their relationships cannot be under looked and it is central in the realization of sustainable use and management of all natural resources in the district. Women, youth and disabled persons are usually the most heavily affected by poor planning and utilization of all forms of natural resources. It is therefore important to include gender issues in planning and implementation process involving natural resources use and management.
HIV/AIDS remains a critical disease in our society and there is need to protect ourselves from getting infected by the disease and in case already affected, we have to embrace the spirit of positive living to ensure that we remain healthy and do not infect others. The disease normally affects performance of every one of us either directly or indirectly and against this background, all planning for natural resources management must mainstream issues of HIV/AIDs for purposes of sustainability.
Civil Society Organization
CSO’s plays a critical role in mobilization and sensitization of communities about sustainable use and management of natural resources and this role is fundamental in ensuring sustainable use. Indigenous knowledge of natural resources use and management exists among communities but this need to be put into use in light of the existing challenges affecting natural resources endowment in different localities for purposes of conserving the resources for use by the present generation and the future and this critical role is played by CSO’s. The civil society organization also plays a crucial role of coordinating conservational efforts by partners to ensure that there is efficient use of resources and no duplication of services.
-The district is well endowed with land, wetlands, fertile soils and savannah woodlands.
-The district leadership is committed to developing and managing all its natural resources.
-There are staffs recruited to plan for and manage the Districts Natural Resources.
-Communities are willing to cooperate in the use and management of natural resources.
-Central government is willing to develop policies and give technical support for sustainable use and management of natural resources.
-Civil society organization is willing to work hand in hand with government, communities and all other stakeholders in the use and management of natural resources.
-The UN- Millennium development goal number seven focus solely on ensuring environmental sustainability.
-NGOs and CBOs are willing to embark on projects that will protect and ensure sustainable management of natural resources.
-Political leaders are committed to the development and management of natural resources because of the critical role natural resources play in fighting poverty.
-Government is willing to fund projects that integrate issues of environmental sustainability.
-The district council is committed to enacting Ordinances that will further sustainable natural resources use and conservation.
-Ignorance about the importance and values of our natural resources by the local communities.
-Conflicting sectoral policies which negatively affects use and management of natural resources.
-Inadequate funds to initiate development projects which would enhance the quality of natural resources, by way of ecosystem restoration and Management to reduce poverty.
-At present, most NGOs, CBOs and government programmes are not geared towards protection of natural resources
-Increase in population in urban areas has increased exploitation and demand for natural resources and associated products and services.
-The looming level of poverty has increased dependency on natural resources use leading to degradation and depletion of some of the natural resources stock.