Today's Article

Achilles Byaruhanga, Executive Director, NatureUganda: The cranes is one of the most gracious birds. I'm not surprised that Uganda chose it as one to be our emperor. I have been studying and working with birds for the last 28 years. In Uganda, I've got about 1,070 different 9speciesof birds. At a global level we have got about 10,000 different species of birds. So, at that level I've got about between 9 and 10% of the global population of the wild birds. 

CNN Anchor: Over recent decades, though, 10habitats for these 11colonies have come under severe 12threat. Since the year 2000, a quarter of Uganda's wetlands have been lost an average of nearly 5,000 hectares a year, causing 13rapid and 14irreversible change to the 15cradle of the cranes. 

Achilles Byaruhanga: It is 16estimated that if this 17degradation continues, we shall lose all the wetlands by 2030. And that will be a very big disaster for the country and for the world. We started 18conducting research here in 1995. That's when we discovered that this wetland had very many species, some of which are 19endemic to this area. In other words, if this wetland goes, it means all those species will disappear forever. And that's when we started working with the communities to make sure that this wetland can be protected. 

CNN Anchor: Across the past three decades, Achilles has 20pioneered a large-scale 21restoration program, successfully campaigning for the 22establishment of twelve wetland sites of international importance across Uganda. This 23vital 24intervention has helped, and cranes return to their natural habitat and providing a 25buffer to the human settlements that threaten with hunting, poisoning and 26electrocution from 27power lines.