Bugamba Central Forest Reserve

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Bugamba Central Forest Reserve
Bugamba forest
Uganda relief map.svg
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Location within Uganda
Location Rwampara district, Western Region, Uganda
Nearest city Hoima
Coordinates 0°43′57″S30°30′58″E / 0.73250°S 30.51611°E / -0.73250; 30.51611 [2]
Area1,210 hectares
Governing bodyNational Forestry Authority

Bugamba Central Forest reserve is a natural forest located in the Rwampara district, in southwestern Uganda. It has been referred to as an intensive soil conservation zone. [3] [4] [5] [6] The Reserve is one of the few softwood plantations where spacing is practiced. [7] [8] [9] It is managed and is maintained on behalf of the Government of Uganda by the National Forestry Authority (NFA) under the National Forestry Authority and Tree Planting Act 8/2003. [10]

Contents

Setting and structure

Bugamba Central Forest Reserve encompasses the ridges and gullies running from the Karamurani Ridges to the Rubingo Valley. The Reserve covers a large amount of high ground and numerous valleys, including the majority of the Kyezo valley's western watershed. [5] It is situated approximately 27 kilometres (17 mi), by road, southwest of Mbarara, the nearest large city [11] The forest reserve is in a low rainfall zone with annual rainfall at 978 mm and 105 rainy days. However because to its high altitude, evaporation is minimal, which guarantees that soil moisture is available for an extended period of time. [5] Bugamba CFR's current plantation area consists of 13 divisions encompassing approximately 1,210 hectares. There are 960 acres of plantable land while existing fire lines and roadways cover an area of 80.9 acres and 25 kilometers, respectively. [12]

Key biodiversity

Bugamba Forest Reserve is key to protecting rare biodiversity in Uganda. Examples of protected biodiversity include conkerberry, caribbean pine, Newtonia, Maesopsis, and the tree species Entandropragma, Albizzia and Markhamia which only occur in the valleys. The planting of conifer species started in 1965 in Bugamba forest reserve, with eucalyptus grandis used in fire lines. [5]

Threats and interventions

The cypress aphid ravaged cypress trees and hedgerows in Uganda in the 1990s, causing significant damage and crop loss.  In the South Western region, the aphid attack severely impacted the softwood plantations including Bugamba forest reserve. [13] Illegal logging has also been an issue in the reserves, resulting in forest cover degradation. [14] A large number of the trees in Bugamba Forest Reserve have already been cut down, with approximately 1,080 hectares of the total area of 1,210 hectares having been cleared. However, replanting efforts have been successful, with approximately 80 hectares of trees remaining in the reserve. In addition to the caribbean pine species, the National Forestry Authority (NFA) has imported new species from Honduras and South Africa. [15] [16]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Protected Area Profile for Bugamba Forest Reserve from the World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  2. ↑ Google (11 March 2020). "Location of Bugamba, Mbarara District, Western Region, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  3. ↑ Atwijukire, Aron (July 2019). The impact of anthropogenic activities on the status of natural belts in Bugamba central forest reserve in Mbarara district (Thesis thesis). Makerere University.
  4. ↑ Katwijukye, A. K., & Doppler, W. (2004). The socio-economic analysis of land use changes and soil conservation in central and western Uganda. Uganda Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 9(1), 303-311.
  5. 1 2 3 4 NFA. (2007). Forest Management Plan for Bugamba and Rwoho Central Forest Reserves for the period 2006-2026. Kampala: National Forest Authority.
  6. ↑ Purdon, M., & Lokina, R. (2014). Ex-post evaluation of the additionality of Clean Development Mechanism afforestation projects in Tanzania, Uganda and Moldova. London: Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.
  7. ↑ Brown, J. R. Lang (1965). "Spacing in Softwood Plantations in Western Uganda". The Commonwealth Forestry Review. 44 (1 (119)): 33–39. ISSN   0010-3381. JSTOR   42603252.
  8. ↑ NOACK, D. (1965). Wood Industry in Tropical Areas. The Commonwealth Forestry Review, 21-33.
  9. ↑ Bainomugisha, A., Kisuule, Y. A., Matsiko, G., & Kyankaaga, R. (2014). Local government councils’ performance and public service delivery in Uganda. ACODE public service delivery and accountability Report Series, (32).
  10. ↑ "National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003, 2003 | Uganda Legal Information Institute". old.ulii.org. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  11. ↑ Google (2023). "Road Distance between Bugamba, Mbarara District, Uganda and Kikagati, Isingiro District, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  12. ↑ "FAO.org". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  13. ↑ Sabukwikopa, J., & Muyango, S. (1991). Current Status of Cinara cupressi in Burundi, its impact on forest resources and control operations. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). Exotic aphid pests of conifers: a crisis in african forestry. Kenia, África. FAO.
  14. ↑ Aluma, J. R. (1989). Settlement in forest reserves, game reserves and national parks in Uganda: a study of social, economic, and tenure factors affecting land use and deforestation in Mabira Forest Reserve, Kibale Forest Reserve and Kibale Game Reserve Corridor.
  15. ↑ "Rwooho, Bugamba forests replanted". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  16. ↑ Auren, R., & Krassowska, K. (2004). Small and medium forestry enterprise in Uganda. Forestry Inspection Division, Kampala and International Institute for Environment and Development: London, UK.
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