Human Activities and Climate Change in Selected National Parks of Western Uganda

Global warming, climate change and tourism of late, have taken stage of academic research. A raging debate is on apart from the popular writings and research articles published on the theme. The Inter-govermental policy panel on climate change (IPPC 2007a). The global mean temperature has increased by 0.76C between 1850-1899 and 2001-2005 and the IPCC concluded that most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid~20t~1 Century is very likely (90% probability) the result of human activities that are increasing green house gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere. The IPCC (2007b) predicts that the pace of climate change is very like (90% probability) to accelerate with continued ORG emissions at or above current rates, with globally averaged surface temperatures estimated to rise by l.8c to 40c by the end of the 21st century. Change in temperature and other climatic features will vary globally (IPCC 2007b). It is very likely that hot extremes, heat waves and heavy precipitation events will continue to become more frequent. Tropical cyclones will likely become intense, with larger peak wind speeds and more heavy precipitation associated with ongoing increase s of tropical sea surface temperatures. Decreases in snow cover, already observed in some regions are projected to continue. The regions affected by these extreme events including many major tourism destinations, will expand. These predicted changes highlight the need for awareness and preparedness for natural hazards at the local level through systematic capacity building and strategies for disaster risk management (LTNWTO 2007b). UNWTO has determined that tourism is a primary source of foreign exchange earnings in 46 out of 50 of the world’s least developed countries (LDC’s)(UNWTO 2007C, UNDP 2005; HALL 2007). Global discourse over Africa and UNWTO’S sustainable tourism for eliminating poverty (ST.EP) initiative re-energized the debate about pro-poor tourism or tourism for poverty alleviation (hail and Coles 2008; Simpson 2007; Schilcher 2007).