Lake Bunyonyi is not just one of Uganda\u2019s most beautiful natural sites, it\u2019s also a vital water source for drinking and agriculture which millions of people depend on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many challenges around maintaining the lake as an eco-system: encroachment of local communities into the wetlands and deforestation which is leading to soil erosion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To promote conservation efforts, Self Help Africa\u2019s project \u2018Striking A Balance\u2019\u00a0is training smallholder farmers on soil and water conservation methods such as digging trenches and check-dams and planting a variety of trees to stop soil and water run-off entering the lake and causing siltation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Siltation is dirt, soil or sediment found in water. Too much of it causes a decrease in oxygen levels in water, affecting fish and other marine life.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To date, the project has overseen the digging of 42 trenches and the planting of 30,000 trees to counteract this.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n