Pollinator biodiversity in Uganda and in Sub-Sahara Africa: Landscape and habitat management strategies for its conservation

Abstract

Previous pollinator faunistic surveys conducted in 26 different sites indicated that farmlands of central Uganda supported more than 650 bee species, 330 butterfly species and 57 fly species. Most crop species grown in Uganda are pollinator-dependents. There is also a high dependency of rural communities on pollination services for their livelihoods and incomes. The annual economic value attributable to pollinating services delivered to crop production sector was estimated to be worth of US$0.49 billion for a total economic value of crop production of US$1.16 billion in Uganda. Despite the great contribution of pollinators to crop yields, there is still lack of knowledge of their conservation strategies in Uganda. Policies, actions, farming practices, critical landscape management techniques and conservation measures for spatio-temporal stability and maintenance of pollinator communities in farmlands of Uganda include (i) the protection and maintenance of high cover (>20%) of natural and semi-natural habitats, (ii) forming mosaic farm-landscapes mimicking natural systems to enhance mediated ecosystem services delivery and agroecosystems resilience to climate change, (iii) field plants and habitat manipulation for spatio-temporal provision of floral resources, (iv) promotingawareness campaigns and sensitization policy makers about the importance of conserving pollinators and (v) encouraging farmers to adopt pollinator-friendly farming practices. Key words: Conservation strategies, policy changes, awareness and sensitization campaigns, pollination services marketing, farmlands, Uganda.