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The wetlands in the city of Fort Portal in Uganda are experiencing wetland degradation as a result of encroachment by anthropogenic activities. This challenge is being addressed by wetland demarcation to physically define, protect and restore the wetland ecosystem.
During the assessment of the Water Footprint Network (WFN) Method and the ISO 14046 method, the benefits of this project became concrete.
The findings based on the WFN method showed that the demarcation of the wetlands produced 1,080.61 CAPs annually and over 10 years this will result in 10,806.10 CAPs.
The ISO method estimates that the demarcation of the wetlands is annually 4,412.65 CAP equivalents and over 10 years the method estimates 44,126.51 CAP equivalents over the complete cycle.
The costs per CAP over 10 years is € 51.11 based on the WFN method. Based on the ISO the costs per CAP equivalent is €12.52.
Besides volumetric benefits, the calculations also considering social, economic, environmental and water scarcity co-benefits.
- Socially, the wetland demarcation project will lead to increased cohesion through involvement of stakeholders and community. It will also improve the environmental education on wetlands within the community.
- Economically, the project may reduce costs of water intake infrastructure due to the ability of a wetland to absorb excess floodwater.
- Environmentally, the wetland demarcation project will increase the biodiversity in the wetland through conservation of its natural state.