The Murchison Falls-Albert Delta Ramsar site is one of the most sensitive areas within the Murchison Falls Landscape. It is largely composed of papyrus islands. The Ramsar site is inhabited by various rare and resident bird species most notably the Shoebill Stork and Denham’s Bustard famously found in the Delta area, and many migratory species.

It also supports a rich diversity of other notable taxa: mammals, herptiles (amphibians and reptiles) and fish. The site is known to contain various rare fish species (for example Lates macropthalmus and Neobola bredoi) and particularly the delta is a major spawning ground for many economically important fish species.

The Ramsar site is vulnerable to impacts of economic developments within the landscape such as Oil and Gas, Hydropower dams, roads and bridges, Tourism particularly lodges, amongst others. In addition, it’s also under threat from pressure of unsustainable use by local communities. Given its social, ecological and economic importance, it is prudent that any development within the vicinity is performed in environmentally responsible manner, and hence the need for comprehensive and robust data to under its ecology and be able to assess potential impacts and design appropriate mitigation measures.

On behalf of Total E&P Uganda, a responsible Oil & Gas company with very good environment and social best practices, Biodiversity Solutions Limited undertook the most comprehensive assessment of biodiversity in the Delta area of the Ramsar site for one year from 2017-2018 with very interesting results. The one-year project involved studies on birds, Herptiles, Fish populations, macro-invertebrate communities and water quality.

This project aimed at establishing a baseline that would inform longer-term monitoring of specific biodiversity features within the Ramsar site; develop a list of ecologically sensitive features that would help in environmental sensitivity mapping; and understand and mitigate/monitor potential impacts of development activities and other local pressures on biodiversity of the Ramsar site.   The data obtained will help aid environmental sensitivity mapping, and hence development and implementation of appropriate mitigation measures.