Environment Information Network (EIN)

Background

To effectively manage Uganda's natural resources and environment, it was recognised that

information and expertise from the relevant sectors should be brought together.

As a result an Environment Information Network (EIN) was established.

Objective
The main objective of the EIN is to enhance the capability of key data producers to exchange data and information in compatible formats and at minimal time and cost.

The EIN basically works as follows:
It operates as a network of members with open lines of communication between all it has a coordinating function through a "secretariat" it has membership open to all, with initial emphasis ensuring the involvement of large data using and producing government agencies

It provides a forum for communication on a range of technical, institutional and policy issues relating to the availability, dissemination and use of environment information. Participating Institutions
Six institutions are being supported in terms of capacity building for this pilot phase.
These are:


1. Department of Agricultural Planning;
2. Department of Lands and Surveys;
3. Department of Meteorology.
4. Kawanda Research Station, NARO;
5. Makerere Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (MUIENR);
6. The National Biomass Study, Forest Department;


Activities

The EIN carries out a number of functions including:

1. the building awareness of information management needs and issues,
2. capacity-building,
3. promotion of data standards
4. elaboration of data release policies by data-producing institutions.

Information Generating Activities for the EIN

Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

The department of Agricultural Planning, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is responsible for disseminating information to farmers with the objective of increasing agricultural production.

The information includes: soil erosion, pests and weed control methods, use of improved seeds, and the use of improved farming methods. For purposes of the EIN, the department is to provide information on crop zones, cropping calendar and crop suitability model at national, district and other appropriate levels.

Contact:

Robert Sabiiti
Department of Agricultural Planning
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
Phone: 041-321179/321413

Fax: 041-321047

E-M: maaif@imul.com

Department of Lands and Surveys

The Department of Lands and Surveys is responsible for all topographic and cadastral coverage of Uganda in addition to the printing of all thematic maps and the national atlas. As part of the EIN, this department is to provide a basic topographic layer in digital format with communication network, rivers, contours, gridlines, geo-referencing data, graticule place names and other descriptive text at various scales especially 1:250,000.
This is to provide support for all geo-referenced information and a basis for ensuring compatibility of environment information from different sources.

Contact:

John Kitaka or Yafesi Okia
Department of Lands and Surveys
Phone: 041-321087/320301
Fax: 041-320304
E-M: campus@imul.com

Department of Meteorology

The Department of Meteorology is responsible for all meteorological data in Uganda. Under the EIN, the department is to provide information on key aspects of weather and climate of the country.

Contact:

Vensor Baryomu
Department of Meteorology
Phone: 041-233559
Fax:
E-M: meteo@infocom.co.ug,bapuuli@starcom.co.ug
Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute
Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute under the

National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) is mandated to carryout and oversee research in the area of agriculture and specifically soils. Under the EIN, Kawanda will provide soils data especially a national soil map at a scale of 1:250,000 showing the distribution of the different soil types.

Contact

Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute
Phone: 041-567696/566848
Fax: 041-567226/567649
E-M: landuse@infocom.co.ug

Makerere University Institute Of Environment and Natural Resources (MUIENR)

The National Biodiversity Data Bank of Makerere University Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (MUIENR) is an attempt to develop a comprehensive database on biodiversity in Uganda. The objectives are to accumulate data (quantitative and qualitative) on various groups of flora and fauna in the country.
Under the EIN, the databank is to provide information on biodiversity at various scales especially 1:250,000.

Contact:

Herbert Tushabe
National Biodiversity Data Bank
Phone: 041-530135
Fax: 041-530134
E-M: muienr@imul.com

National Biomass Study The National Biomass Study, under the Forest Department (BIOMASS) is geared towards the improvement of energy resource information in the country.
The principal objective has been to provide detailed and cost specific data on biomass energy resources in wood deficit urban areas and large wood consumption areas. For the EIN project, BIOMASS is to provide information on land cover/vegetation at various scales especially 1:250,000.

Contact:

Amadra Ori-Okido
National Biomass Study
Forest Department, Nakawa
Phone: 041-251779
Fax: 041-251778
E-M: nbsfd@imul.com

National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is the lead institution mandates to coordinate, monitor and supervise the environment in Uganda. To effectively manage Uganda's environment, information and expertise from the relevant sectors needed to be brought together. NEMA was therefore selected to be the secretariat of the Environment Information Network to coordinate and supervise the activities of the EIN.

Contact:

Firipo Mpabulungi
National Environment Management Authority
Phone: 041-251064/5/8
Fax: 041-257521
E-M: fmpabulungi@nemaug.org
Assumptions

The network members remain in control of their own data. The use of the word network does not imply an electronic network Although the EIN is already in place, its structure and other issues still need further discussion to ensure mutual understanding