Environmentalists warn that burning of grasslands threatens wildlife

30 November 2025, 8:32 AM

By Freeman Canogura

Environmental activists and local leaders in Agago are raising alarm over the increasing practice of burning grasslands, warning that the activity is destroying wildlife habitats, depleting soil nutrients, and accelerating environmental degradation across the subcounty.

The burning, which residents say is often done to clear land for cultivation, hunting, or ease of livestock grazing, has intensified during the dry spell. Several large patches of grassland around Olung, Alunga, Arum, Lacekoto, and other places have been burned in recent weeks, leaving behind charred land and forcing small wildlife species to flee or perish.

Environmentalists note that the practice, though common in some rural communities, has grown destructive due to higher temperatures, prolonged drought, and changing weather patterns that make fires spread faster and burn more intensely than before.

Lucy Laloyo, a community conservation volunteer in Kalongo, said she has witnessed a decline in small animals such as hares, guinea fowls, squirrels, and bush birds, which once thrived in the tall grasslands. She added that fire destroys nesting areas and food sources, causing wildlife to migrate or die from heat and smoke.

Farmers in the area say that while burning has traditionally been used to clear old vegetation, the current scale is unsustainable. Lokoroma Peter, a farmer from Lai Muto Town Council, said fires now spread beyond intended boundaries, destroying young trees and grazing zones. He said constant burning leaves the soil bare and weak, making it less productive and more vulnerable to erosion when the rains return.

Local leaders warn that uncontrolled bush burning is also contributing to human–wildlife conflict, with snakes and wild rodents forced into homes and gardens in search of shelter. They also note that fires often threaten community forests and fruit trees that families rely on for income and food.

According to the District Natural Resources Officer, David Olal, the district is conducting community sensitization campaigns to discourage the burning of vegetation. He said bush burning is illegal under the National Environment Act and offenders risk fines or prosecution. He emphasized that repeated fires destroy carbon-absorbing vegetation and worsen climate change impacts already affecting the region.

Olal said the district will work with local councils and environmental committees to identify frequent offenders and strengthen bylaws regulating land-clearing practices. He encouraged farmers to adopt sustainable land management, including mulching, controlled grazing, and replanting grass cover instead of burning.