Reading: Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity in Uganda

A reading from the report of the USAID titled ‘Climate Change and Biodiversity in Uganda’ that describes the effect of climatic and non-climatic stressors on its biodiversity and ecosystem goods and services. This reading describes expected changes in flora and fauna, increase in frequency and severity of floods and forest fires in specific regions of Uganda due to climate change. This reading is from chapters 2.2 (Climate Change and Potential Impacts on Biodiversity) and 2.3 ( Non- Climate Stressors on Biodiversity & Ecosystem Goods & Services) of the report.

Students will learn about how an increase in temperature can affect the hydrological cycle, change the distribution of flora and fauna, lead to decrease in availability of ecosystem resources, cause colonization by invasive species, trigger human wildlife conflicts, cause natural disasters and disease outbreaks, and affect the livelihoods of people in Uganda.  They will also learn about how climatic and non-climatic stressors potentially alter ecosystems.

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

1. Discuss how climate change can affect biodiversity in Uganda. 
2. List how climatic stressors affect ecosystem goods and services.
3. How do climatic stressors affect non-climatic stressors?
4. Discuss how climate change and loss of biodiversity can lead to increased human-wildlife conflict?
5. How will climate change affect the livelihoods of people in Uganda?