Bugoma Central Forest Reserve

East Africa > Uganda > Bugoma Central Forest Reserve

Summary

© Cat Hobaiter

• Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) are present in Bugoma Central Forest Reserve.
• The chimpanzee population size is unknown; the density in 2006 was 1.99 individuals per km².
• The chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
• The site has a total size of 400 km².
• Key threats to chimpanzees are hunting and clearing land for agriculture.
• Conservation activities have focused on providing clean water access and raising conservation awareness.

Site characteristics

Table 1. Basic site information for Bugoma Central Forest Reserve

Area	400 km²
Coordinates	1.304 N, 31.016 E
Designation	Central Forest Reserve
Habitat types In 2006, the density of chimpanzees was estimated to be 1.99 chimpanzees/km² (Plumptre & Cox 2006). Table 2. Ape population estimates in Bugoma Central Forest Reserve Species Year Abundance estimate (95% CI) Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI) Encounter rate (nests/km) Area Method Source Comments A.P.E.S. database ID Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii 2006 1.99 Bugoma Forest Line transects (Distance) Plumptre & Cox 2006 Survey effort: 511.2 km Threats Table 3. Threats to apes in Bugoma Central Forest Reserve Category Specific threats Threat level Quantified severity Description Year of threat 1. Residential & commercial development Absent 2. Agriculture & aquaculture 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops Present, but threat severity is unknown Encroachment of forest habitat for farming affecting the boundaries (Hobaiter & Gruber pers. comm. 2020). Sugarcane companies are clearing land within the reserve (Lewton 2020). Ongoing (2020) 3. Energy production & mining Absent 4. Transportation & service corridors 4.1 Roads & railroads Present, but threat severity is unknown Busy dirt road cuts through the main forest block and divides chimpanzees' (and other species') territory - danger from speeding vehicles (Hobaiter & Gruber pers. comm. 2020). Ongoing (2020) 5. Biological resource use 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals Present, but threat severity unknown The whole forest is affected. Snares placed for duiker and bush pigs also trap chimpanzees. Chimpanzees are also directly targeted by hunters (Hobaiter & Gruber pers. comm. 2020). Ongoing (2020) 5. Biological resource use 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting Present, but threat severity is unknown The whole forest is affected. Illegal logging is present throughout forest, in particular outside of the immediate research areas; includes chimpanzee feeding species. Trees illegally felled for charcoal burning and firewood, particularly around the boundaries (Hobaiter & Gruber pers. comm. 2020). Ongoing (2020) 6. Human intrusion & disturbance Absent 7. Natural system modifications Absent 8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases 8.4 Problematic species/diseases of unknown origin Present, but threat severity is unknown The whole forest is affected. Respiratory outbreaks. Other sites in Uganda have confirmed similar respiratory pathogens of human origin (Hobaiter & Gruber pers. comm. 2020). Ongoing (2020) 9. Pollution Absent 10. Geological Events Absent 11. Climate change & severe weather 11.1 Habitat shifting & alteration Present, but threat severity is unknown The whole forest is affected. Some evidence that there is decreasing fruiting in forest trees, perhaps impacted by increase in overnight temperature lows (Hobaiter & Gruber pers. comm. 2020). Ongoing (2020) 12. Other options Absent IUCN Threats list Conservation activities The Bugoma Primate Conservation Project was established in 2015, and works in collaboration with local communities surrounding the reserve on a number of conservation activities, including school classes, plastic waste recycling, and clean water programs. Table 4. Conservation activities in Bugoma Central Forest Reserve Category Specific activity Description Year of activity 1. Residential & commercial development Not reported 2. Agriculture & aquaculture Not reported 3. Energy production & mining Not reported 4. Transportation & service corridors Not reported 5. Biological resource use Not reported 6. Human intrusion & disturbance Not reported 7. Natural system modifications Not reported 8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases Not reported 9. Pollution Not reported 10. Education & Awareness 10.5. Implement multimedia campaigns using theatre, film, print media, and discussions The Bugoma Primate Conservation Project visits local schools and communities to talk about the Bugoma Forest, and hold conservation film nights (Bugoma Primate Conservation Project n.d.) Ongoing 11. Habitat Protection Not reported 12. Species Management Not reported 13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives Clean water access program (Bugoma Primate Conservation Project n.d.) Ongoing Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017) Challenges Table 5. Challenges reported for Bugoma Central Forest Reserve Challenge Source Civil unrest (Hobaiter & Gruber pers. comm. 2020) Research activities Following initial surveys in 2015, systematic habituation of chimpanzee communities started in 2016 and is ongoing. Several groups of Ugandan mangabey are already habituated. Systematic data collection on chimpanzee behaviour, forest tree phenology, illegal activities, rainfall, and temperature are collected by the Bugoma Primate Conservation Project. Bugoma Central Forest Reserve Documented behaviours Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Bugoma Central Forest Reserve Behavior Source Not reported External links Bugoma Primate Conservation Project Bugoma Primate Conservation Project on Twitter Relevant datasets A.P.E.S Portal References Lewton, T. (2020, November 5). Uganda environment authority greenlights clearing of Bugoma Forest. Online: https://news.mongabay.com/2020/11/uganda-environment-authority-greenlights-clearing-of-bugoma-forest/ Plumptre, A.J., & Cox, D. (2006). Counting primates for conservation: primate surveys in Uganda. Primates, 47, 65-73. Bugoma Primate Conservation Project (n.d.) Retrieved from: https://bugomaprimates.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/research/ Page completed by: Cat Hobaiter & Thibaud Gruber Date: 18/11/2020