Fish are important resources for food in Uganda and they are rich in biodiversity in lakes and other freshwater ecosystems. Although fish are not as charismatic and visible, as the big mammals of the savannah, protecting freshwater areas means protecting food for wildlife and people. For non-fish freshwater critters such as invertebrates and algae, there’s even less public awareness and scientific information, but these freshwater organisms are vital to healthy ecosystems. Keeping track of fish populations and managing threats requires monitoring of fish populations and diversity over time. Without understanding trends of freshwater biodiversity, it is difficult for decision-makers for conservation and fisheries resources to make informed decisions for protection and extraction.

The National Fisheries Resources Research Institute is leading this project to collect data from different research efforts throughout Uganda’s freshwater ecosystems on fish, invertebrates, and algae. When the data is collected and posted to a data portal, the Ugandan government can use this data to help develop, monitor and achieve Uganda’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. NGOs, researchers, journalists, and developers may use this data to better understand Uganda’s freshwater biodiversity. Furthermore, this project will build on an IUCN initiative to map the Key Biodiversity Areas (http://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/) in Uganda for freshwater biodiversity to prioritize areas for conservation.

1. Mobilizing and publishing  existing biodiversity data focusing on fish (10,000+ records), invertebrates (10,000+ records), and algae (5000+ records).
2. Developing and publicizing a data portal for Uganda’s freshwater biodiversity.
3. Strengthening capacity for freshwater biodiversity data mobilization, data management and sharing and use.
4. Mapping of Uganda’s critical freshwater biodiversity sites and identification and promotion of freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs).

With COVID-19 restricting travel and meeting with our grantees, JRS invited our projects to submit a short update for the JRS Board of Trustees. Though intended for an internal JRS audience, we loved these videos and share them here with permission. Enjoy!

• Over 20,000 records of fish, algae & invertebrates published to GBIF.
• Photo gallery and checklists of threatened species to aid researchers in species ID photo gallery with at least 200 photos of fish and 50 invertebrates.
• Training 11 scientists in data mobilization, sharing, and use.
• Web portal that provides access to freshwater biodiversity data.
• Freshwater Key Biodiversity Area for Uganda identified and species and habitat distribution maps published.

The goal of this project is to expand the accessibility and utility of freshwater biodiversity information in Uganda. NaFIRRI’s new initiative builds on three related projects in East Africa (IUCN—MacArthur Foundation project, NaFIRRI project funded by GBIF and European Union, and University of Denver—NSF funded project) to provide comprehensive information base by mobilizing existing freshwater biodiversity data, creating a long-lasting system for data sharing, and expanding Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for Uganda. By increasing awareness, access to freshwater biodiversity data, and identifying areas for conservation priorities, the Ugandan government will be poised to make data-driven decisions about Uganda’s freshwater biodiversity. Training scientists will further ensure the maintenance of the data portal for continued use and growth over time.

• 20 datasets with 40,952 records of fish, algae & invertebrates published to GBIF.
• Web portal launched that provides access to freshwater biodiversity data.
• Photo identification guides for 105 fishes of Uganda in the web portal gallery.
• 25 scientists from NaFIRRI trained on data mobilization and publishing.
• Nine scientists participated in the extended capacity enhancement program and published at least one dataset each through GBIF or the web portal.
• IUCN Red List of molluscs completed and draft assessments for 40 fish species completed and submitted.
• Two data papers on fish species occurrence records submitted to a data journal.
• Exhibit at the Jinja Festival to educate and share about 50 fish species.
• A chapter on the status of freshwater biodiversity in Uganda was prepared and included in the State of Environment report 2020 for policy makers.
• Three MSc. students at Makerere University completed coursework and presented research proposals.
• A signed MoU with Nugsoft technologies to formalize partnership.

Musinguzi L, Rwezawula P, Lugya J, Kamya A, Natugonza V (2018). Fish Species Occurrence Records for Uganda Mobilized from Observation Archives. Version 1.1. National Fisheries Resources Research Institute. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/ywx440  accessible via GBIF.org (https://www.gbif.org/dataset/90b6055a-c12b-4c91-951a-7efbe184bca1)

Mr. Vianny Natugonza currently works as a research scientist at the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI). Natugonza is also the Principal Investigator of the pilot Fish Biodiversity Informatics project at NaFIRRI, where he leads a team of motivated graduate students to rescue freshwater biodiversity data. His position at NaFIRRI has helped him work on several projects (both with national and international collaborators) that have collected freshwater biodiversity information across the country, and his current interests are connected with creating tools for freely sharing these data. Natugonza holds an M.Sc. degree from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, and he is currently undertaking a PhD in Ecological Modelling at the University of Iceland.

Few projects in science and economic development ever stand-alone. Most are built upon prior work that is often forgotten or not acknowledge in the efforts to sell donors upon ‘novel’ work. This project is one where the project team and JRS acknowledge the investments and work in biodiversity information for the African Great Lakes by the Nature Conservancy, Lake Tanganyika Basin Authority, the MacArthur Foundation, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Global Environment Facility (GEF), International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network (IW:Learn), International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO), Population Reference Bureau (PRB), WorldFish, Deltares, and United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In particular, the GBIF BID Program set the stage for this investment by JRS.  We hope that success in Uganda might be replicated elsewhere in the region.