An Assessment Of The Learners’ Awareness Of The Role Of Trees In The Conservation Of Water-Shed Quality: A Case Study Of Manafwa River Watershed In Bududa District In Uganda

Abstract

Manafwa valley is a Sub catchment of Kyoga Water Management Zone, one of the four Water Management Zones of Uganda. It is the main source of fresh water for the densely populated city of Mbale and other towns within the watershed. It is a large watershed accommodating a large section of the people of eastern Uganda. In general, the conservation and management of water-shed quality in the Manafwa valley has become a problem. It, therefore, among others has to be conserved using various approaches like tree planting, good farming practices and protecting Mt Elgon National Park. It was upon this background that, this study was designed to investigate the learners’ awareness of the role of trees in conservation and management of Manafwa Valley Water-Shed quality. It tried to find out, among others, if learners were aware of the role of trees in removing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere protecting the soils, attracting rains and moderating the atmospheric temperatures. Questionnaires were used as a major tool for data collection. The data was analysed using Scientific Package for Social Research (SPSS) and the results presented through percentages and descriptive statistics. The results showed that, majority of the respondents were aware of the role of trees such as acting as a remover of carbon from the atmosphere attracting rainfall, protecting the soil from both wind and water erosions in addition to regulating environmental temperatures. In general, the study concluded that learners could be involved in conservation and management of Manafwa watershed through the planting of trees.