IUCN Management Category VI (Resource Reserve)

Biogeographical Province 3.05.04 (East African Woodland/savanna)

Geographical Location Located in the Toro District of western Uganda, it extends northwards from Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake George towards Fort Portal. 0°30'N, 30°20'E.

Date and History of Establishment 1964 by Statutory Instrument No. 221. A sector of the reserve was previously part of the former Lake George Game Reserve. (Lake George Game Reserve now forms the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park).

Area 56,000ha; contiguous to Queen Elizabeth (Rwenzori) National Park (197,800ha), which is contiguous to several other protected areas

Land Tenure Government

Altitude 1,110-1,590m

Physical Features The reserve is in the plateau area of the volcanic crater region east of the Ruwenzori range. The basement complex of precambrian undifferentiated acid gneisses is overlain in some areas by quartzite intruded by ampholites, gneisses, and granites. The soils are well-drained ferallitic sandy to sandy clay loams. Two rainy seasons occur in the periods March to May and September to November. Mean annual precipitation is 1500mm. Mean maximum temperature is 25°C and minimum temperature is 13°C.

Climate No information

Vegetation The reserve includes part of Mpanga Forest, a vast tract of tropical high forest extending from Fort Portal almost to Lake George (some 12-15 miles away) and links up with the main block of Kibale Forest. The main vegetation type is moist semi-deciduous forest (part way between lowland and montane forest) with Chrysophyllum spp., Celtis spp., and Cynometra alexandri grading to moist Acacia-Hyparrhenia woodland/savanna with grasses Cymbopogon afronardus, Imperata cylindrica, Themeda triandra, and Hyparrhenia spp.. Other species include Pennisetum purpureum, Beckeropsis uniseta, and Acanthus pubescens. The combination of species varies with location. There is also swampland of Cyperus papyrus, Phragmites sp., Mitragyna rubrostipulata, and Neoboutonia macrocalyx with canopy of Pseudospondias microcarpa, Treculia africana, and Symphonia globulifera. The montane forest trees support many epiphytes including beard lichens, elephant-ear fern, horse-tongue fern, mosses, and orchids.

Fauna Mammals include: elephant Loxodonta africana (T), warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus, giant forest hog Hylochoerus meinertzhageni, hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius, bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus, buffalo Syncerus caffer, blue duiker Cephalophus monticola, red duiker C. natalensis, common duiker Sylvicapra grimmia, Uganda kob Kobus kob thomasi, bush pig Potamochoerus porcus, pangolin Manis sp., otter Lutra sp., serval Felis serval, and five species of mongoose. The forests are among the richest in East Africa for primates, with 11 species present, including: diademed monkey Cercopithecus mitis, red-tailed monkey C. ascanius, l'Hoest's monkey C. lhoesti, white-cheeked mangabey Cercocebus albigena, and olive baboon Papio anubis. Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes (T) and black and white colobus Colobus guereza occur in the northern sector which also constitutes the last refuge for the only remaining viable population in Uganda of red colobus Colobus badius tephrosceles. Kibale is exceptional for forest birds and about 290 species have been recorded, including one endemic to this forest, the Kibale ground-thrush Turdus kibalensis (I); giant blue turaco Corythaeola cristata, grey parrot Psittacus erithacus, and black-and-white casqued hornbill Bycanistes subcylindricus also occur. The reserve also constitutes an important reservoir of reptiles and insects including several species of mamba, cobra, viper and python, and the butterflies African giant swallowtail Papilio antimachus (R) and Salamis temora.

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population No information

Visitors and Visitor Facilities No information

Scientific Research and Facilities Periodic animal population surveys. Integrated ecological research projects have been carried out in Kibale Forest for about 10 years including a study aided by WWF, the New York Zoological Society and Ugandan National Research Council (IUCN/WWF Project 1969) on the effects of selective tree felling on primate populations.

Kanyawarra Forest Station has a library.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management No settlement is allowed

Part of Kibale Forest was established in 1976 as a nature reserve (about 6,000ha) protected against all forms of human exploitation and buffered by forest ( tall mature forest) used for selective timber felling. It is also contiguous to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which includes a 1,630ha area of undisturbed natural forest also protected from human exploitation.

Settlement is confined to the southern sector. Kibale has been identified as one of the five most important forests for wildlife in Uganda (Kingston 1967). A Toyota Landcruiser was provided under IUCN/WWF Project 1765 to combat encroachment and illegal timber removal.

Management Constraints The reserve was originally established as a migratory route for animals moving to the protected areas north of Queen Elizabeth National Park, but it is now less useful in that role due to the reduction in animal numbers over the past years. Agricultural encroachment occurs in the south (18,700ha) and some illegal timber extraction in the forests of the north, reducing the undisturbed area of forest to 18500ha (Kingdon 1973). One of the main reasons for establishment of the reserve was maximisation of sustained timber production. Timber is being extracted and there are plantations of exotic conifers. Some hunting is permitted.

Staff There are forest and game staff based at two plant stations, including three foresters, four forest rangers, and four forest guards. The game department employs one senior game guard and two game guards.

Budget No recent information

Local Addresses

Forest and Game Department

References

IUCN/WWF Project 1969. Effects of selective tree felling on populations of rain forest primates.

IUCN/WWF Project 1765. Uganda, Forest Reserves.

Kingdon, J. (1973). Endemic birds and mammals of western Uganda: measuring Uganda's wealth and a plea for supra-economic values. Uganda J. 37: 1-7.

Kingston, B. (1967). Working plan for Kibale and Itwara Central Forest Reserves, Toro District, Uganda. Entebbe: Uganda Forest Department.

Malpas, R. (1980). Wildlife in Uganda 1980 - A Survey. A Report to the Minister of Tourism and Wildlife, Uganda.

Struhsaker, T. and Leland, L. (1979). In: Kibale an inheritance still preserved. SWARA 2(1).

Wing, L.D. and Buss, I.O. (February 1970). Elephants and forests. Wildlife monographs 19. (Includes list of woody plant species in the reserve).

Date 1984