WILDLIFE/ BIODIVERSITY

Uganda hosts an exceptional number of animal and plant species due to the wide variety of aquat- ic and terrestrial ecosystems, which range from mountains, rainforest, deciduous bushlands and extensive freshwater resources. Uganda’s biologi- cal diversity ranks within the top ten in the world.

Wildlife in Uganda is increasingly being found in protected areas only. It is these protected areas (particularly national parks) that generate the ma- jority of Uganda’s tourism revenue. Tourism pres- ently ranks third in foreign exchange earnings and the sector drew US$560 million from wildlife tour- ism in 2008. This makes tourism one of Uganda’s top revenue earners.

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