Kagombe Central Forest Reserve

Last updated
Kagombe Central Forest Reserve
Kagombe forest
Uganda relief map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Uganda
LocationWestern Region, Uganda
Nearest city Kagadi
Coordinates 0°50′31″N30°47′46″E / 0.842°N 30.796°E / 0.842; 30.796
Area301 km2 (116 sq mi)
Governing bodyNational Forestry Authority (NFA)

Kagombe Central Forest Reserve is a 301-square-kilometre (74,000-acre) forest reserve located in Western Uganda's district of Kagadi and Nyamarundu sub county. [2] [3] [4] [5] It is also located in Uganda's Albertine Rift ecoregion area renowned for its rich biodiversity. [6]

Contents

Conservation Status

Kagombe forest reserve was designated in 1932 [5] and is managed by Uganda's National Forestry Authority (NFA). [2] It is home to different flora and fauna including chimpanzees. [7] Other species in the forest include Elgon Olive, Preminor Angoles, Macamia platicalex, Ebony and Abezia. [5] In 2019, NFA evicted encroachers from Kagombe Forest Reserve to support restoration of Uganda's forest cover and ensure conservation of protected areas. [4] [8] [9] In 2022, the NFA in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature, Uganda launched a forest restoration drive for Kagombe and Bugoma forest reserves. [10] [11] [12]

Threats

The forest reserve is threatened by encroachment, charcoal burning, crop raiding, forest fires, illegal pitsawing and medicinal plant collection. [4] [7] [13] [14] Hunting of bush meat with dogs and nets in Kagombe Forest is prevalent since the forest is less intensively visited by staff. [14] Chimpanzees in Kagombe are affected by indiscriminate effects of snaring using spears and bows. [14] In the previous decade, agribusiness has devastated nearly three-quarters of Kagombe Central Forest Reserve. Since 2000, over 13000-hectares of Kagombe forest has been encroached on by locals in Kagadi district. [4] [15] [16] Some local communities have joined together to counteract the effects of climate change through afforestation and patrolling. [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Budongo Forest</span> Forest in Uganda

The Budongo Forest in Uganda is northwest of the capital city Kampala on the way to Murchison Falls National Park and is located on the escarpment northeast of Lake Albert. It covers parts of Hoima and Kikuube. It is known for its former abundance of East African mahogany trees as well as being home to a population of chimpanzees. An exceptionally large mahogany tree is still found here and is more than 80 meters tall and some 20 meters in circumference. The forest covers 82,530 hectares and is a catchment for Lake Albert. It is managed by National Forestry Authority (NFA).

The Bugoma Forest is a protected tropical forest that is situated southwest of Hoima and northeast of Kyenjojo towns, and east of Lake Albert, in the Hoima district of western Uganda. It was gazetted in the 1932 and came under the mandate of the National Forestry Authority in 2003. But it was expanded in 1965, 1968 and 1998. Its surface area is given as between 41,144 hectares (411.44 km2) and 65,000 hectares (650 km2).

Nyabiku Central Forest Reserve is a gazetted forest reserve in Kibaale District, Uganda. It is located in the sub-counties of Mugarama and Nyamarunda, approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) from Kibaale Town. The reserve covers an area of 3,400 hectares.

Guramwa Central Forest Reserve is a protected area located in Western Uganda's Kibaale district. It is managed by the National Forestry Authority and was first gazetted in 1932 under the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003 with an area of 230 ha (0.9 sq mi), and was later re-gazetted in 1968 with an area of 1,550 ha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Rwenzori Central Forest Reserve</span> Forest reserve

North Rwenzori Central Forest Reserve is a protected tropical forest situated between Bundibugyo District and Ntoroko District in Western Uganda. This Natural Forest Reserve is at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Wambabya Central Forest Reserve is located in both Hoima District and Kikuube district in Western Uganda near the north-eastern border of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve. It was demarcated in 1932. It is operated by the National Forest Authority (NFA). It covers an area of 3,429 ha (13.24 sq mi).

Rwensambya Central Forest Reserve is a tropical forest located in Kyegegwa district. It covers an area of 671 hectares.

Rwengeye Central Forest Reserve is a protected tropical high forest in Kiryanga and Pacwa subcounties that are located in Kibaale District in Western Uganda. It covers an area of 329 hecatres (3.24 km²). It is operated by the National Forestry Authority (NFA). Its WDPA ID is 39999. It was declared a forest reserve in 1932.

Nyabyeya Central Forest Reserve is a forest reserve located in Masindi District, Western Uganda, Bujenje County, Budongo sub-county, and Nyabyeya parish in western Uganda. It is part of the extensive network of Central Forest Reserves managed by the National Forestry Authority (NFA) in Uganda. This forest reserve covers an area of about 358.06 hectares. Nyabyeya Forest Reserve was created to train students in forestry under the Nyabyeya Forestry College.

Nyamakere Central Forest Reserve is a protected area located in the Kiryandongo District of Uganda. It is one of the many Central Forest Reserves managed by the National Forestry Authority (NFA) of Uganda. Nyamakere Central Forest Reserve covers an extensive stretch of over 3.4 kilometers.

Ruzaire Central Forest Reserve is a protected high forest located in Kibaale district which is in the located within the Albertine Region. It covers an area of 1194.94 hectares. It is managed by the National Forestry Authority.

Kasyoha-Kitomi Central Forest Reserve is located in Western Uganda, and has an area of 433-square-kilometre (107,000-acre). It is located south of Lake George and the Kazinga channel in the Albertine Rift eco-region, which is known for its abundance of endemic species. The forest reserve lies within the counties of Bunyaruguru, Igara and Buhweju in the administrative districts of Bushenyi, Ibanda and Kamwenge It was officially gazetted in 1932 and is controlled by Uganda's National Forestry Authority (NFA).

Nyakarongo Central Forest Reserve is a protected area located in Kibaale district, western Uganda approximately 215 kilometers from Kampala, the Capital City of Uganda. The forest reserve covers an area of 3,535 hectares.

Kangombe Central Forest Reserve is a forest reserve located in Kibaale District, Uganda. The reserve is known for its rich biodiversity and ecological significance. It serves as a habitat for numerous plant and animal species.

Muhangi Central Forest Reserve is a protected area located in Western Uganda's Kyenjojo district. Muhangi forest is a closed tropical forest that protects the banks of river Muzizi. It spans an area of 2,044 hectares. It is also located in the Ugandan Albertine Rift, Muzizi River Catchment Area since the River Muzizi runs along the northern part of Muhangi Central Forest Reserve.

Kasato Central Forest Reserve is a protected tropical forest that is located in Kiryanga subcounty in Kagadi District in Western Uganda. It covers an area of 26.82 km2(2691 hectares) It managed by the National Forestry Authority. It was designated a reserve in 1965. Its WPDA ID is 39988.

Muhunga Central Forest Reserve is a protected tropical forest that is located in Kyebando sub-county in Kibaale District in Western Uganda. It covers an area of 4.12 km2. It managed by the National Forestry Authority. It was designated a reserve in 1965. Its WPDA ID is 39992.

References

  1. Protected Area Profile for Kagombe Forest Reserve from the World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Kagombe Forest Reserve (Uganda) | eConservation". econservation.jrc.ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  3. "Conservation of Biodiversity in the Albertine Rift Forest Areas of Uganda | eConservation". econservation.jrc.ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Tumusiime, A. (2013, April). NFA gives encroachers four months ultimatum to vacate Forest Reserve. https://ugandaradionetwork.net. https://ugandaradionetwork.net/story/nfa-gives-encroachers-four-months-ultimatum-to-vacate-forest-reserve
  5. 1 2 3 "Kagombe Forest is being depleted to cultivate food crops – Tuck Magazine". 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  6. Plumptre, Andrew J.; Davenport, Tim R. B.; Behangana, Mathias; Kityo, Robert; Eilu, Gerald; Ssegawa, Paul; Ewango, Corneille; Meirte, Danny; Kahindo, Charles; Herremans, Marc; Peterhans, Julian Kerbis; Pilgrim, John D.; Wilson, Malcolm; Languy, Marc; Moyer, David (2007-01-01). "The biodiversity of the Albertine Rift". Biological Conservation. Conservation in Areas of High Population Density in Sub-Saharan Africa. 134 (2): 178–194. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2006.08.021. ISSN   0006-3207.
  7. 1 2 "Uganda: Wildlife in Trouble As Protected Areas Become Time-Bomb Islands". Save the Elephants. 2015-03-21. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  8. "NFA evicts encroachers from Kagombe forest reserve". Monitor. 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  9. Musoke, Ronald (2021-04-26). "Race on to restore Uganda's forests". The Independent Uganda. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  10. "WWF launches forests restoration drive in Kagadi, Kibaale". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  11. "WWF Kick-Starts Second Phase of Woodlot Restoration". www.wwfuganda.org. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  12. Javira, Ssebwami (2022-07-19). "WWF in drive to restore degraded Kagombe, Bugoma Forest Reserves". PML Daily. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  13. Kugonza, Pius (June 2019). Contributions of Kagombe Central Forest Reserve to livelihoods of people in Muhoro sub county, Kagadi district (Thesis thesis). Makerere University.
  14. 1 2 3 Plumptre A.J., Cox, D. & Mugume, S. (2003) The Status of Chimpanzees in Uganda. Albertine Rift Technical Report Series No. 2. Wildlife Conservation Society
  15. "Kagadi locals encroach on 13,000 hectares of Kagombe forest". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  16. Asaba, Reacheal (2018-10-30). "Encroachment and eviction of local communities from Kagombe Central forest reserve, Kibaale District".{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. "Restoring Uganda's forest to combat climate change". wwf.panda.org. Retrieved 2023-05-26.