Itwara Central Forest Reserve

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Summary

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Site characteristics

Itwara Forest is a medium altitude moist semi-deciduous forest forest located in Kyenjojo, North of Kagura, within the Albertine Rift Region, Western Uganda. It covers a relatively small area of 87 km2. The reserve occupies a steep undulating terrain, with elevation between 1220 to 1510 m, and dissected by two rivers, Wamisu and Sogahi which drain northwards (Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership, 2024).

The climate is tropical with two rainfall peaks from April to May and September to November with an annual mean temperature range of 15° C- 27° C and annual rainfall range 1,250-1,400 mm (Howard, 1991).

The forest covers most of the reserve, supporting about 258 plant species (NFA, 2024), dominated by tree species such as Parinari excelsa, Olea welwitschii, Carapa grandiflora and Aningeria altissima while only 20% of the reserve is grassland (Ministry of Water and Environment, 2008: Howard, 1991).

Provides habitat to 183 bird species, 9 small mammals, 256 trees and shrubs species, 127 butterfly species, 56 large moths species (Ministry of Water and Environment, 2008). It contains sufficient numbers of the butterfly Telipna sheffieldii to qualify as a global KBA (Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership, 2024).

Itwara Forest is one of the natural forests that have been severely encroached and destroyed due to need for timber causing highest level of depletion. It falls on the list of most affected forests and the others include Matiri, Muzizi, Bugoma and Oruha Forest Reserves (NFA, 2024)

Chimpanzees have been reported at the site since the early 90s and their abundance has been estimated at 120 individuals by (Plumptre, Cox & Mugume 2003). The chimpanzees are not fully habituated to human presence and an estimate of the number of communities is not available. Other primate species reported in the reserve include; Black and white colobus,Baboon, Red-tail monkey,L'Hoests monkey and Blue monkey.

Table 1. Basic site information for Itwara Central Forest Reserve

Species	Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii
Area	87
Coordinates	Lat: 0.791389° N , Lon: 30.471944° E
Type of site	Protected area (Forest Reserve)
Habitat types	Subtropical/tropical dry forest, Grassland
Type of governance	Governance by government

IUCN habitat categories Site designations

Ape status

Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Itwara 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	1999 and 2002	120 (67-215)	1.35		Itwara CF	Line transects	(Plumptre, Cox & Mugume 2003; Plumptre & Cox 2006)	A marked nest count method was used to obtain nest density estimates, Nest density was converted to chimpanzee density. Chimpanzees were censused with line transect and made reconnaissance walks. Transect was walked every 2 weeks for a period of 3–4 months Repeat counts along transects were analyzed as dependent sightings. Data obtained were analyzed in DISTANCE

Threats

Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Itwara Central Forest Reserve

Category	Specific threats	Threat level	Description	Year of threat
5 Biological resource use	5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Present (unknown severity)	Hunting with dogs, nets and spears was more common for Itwara although snares were encountered as well. Hunting of chimpanzees was rare and not deliberate as chimpanzees were not the target (Plumptre, Cox & Mugume 2003). Poaching reported in 1994 (Edroma et al., 1997)	Ongoing. Reported 1994 and 2003
5 Biological resource use	5.3.2 Commercial logging	Present (unknown severity)	Reported as one of the most destroyed due to timber harvesting (NFA, 2024) 13.2 ha of the reserve were mechanically harvested by 1994, 3.0 lightly pitsawn and 3,5 ha heavily pitsawn (Edroma et al., 1997: Howard, 1991)	Ongoing. First reported 1970
5 Biological resource use	5.3.1 Subsistence logging	Present (unknown severity)	Illegal harvesting for for charcoal burning is also having an impact on the forest reserves and chimpanzees. Charcoal burning has the potential to cause more damage if not carefully controlled, as people are less selective in the tree species they harvest for charcoal (Plumptre, Cox & Mugume 2003)	Ongoing. (2003)
2 Agriculture & aquaculture	2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Present (unknown severity)	Forest has been encroached for farmland. Encroachment is resulting in the loss of critical chimpanzee habitat and reduction in forest cover. More critically, forest connectivity and dispersal opportunities for chimpanzees has also been significantly reduced, preventing gene flow necessary to maintain viable metapopulations. In the long term, the inability to disperse could be the greatest threat to chimpanzee communities in these forests (Plumptre, Cox & Mugume 2003)	Ongoing. 2003

IUCN Threats list

Conservation activities

Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Itwara Central Forest Reserve

Category	Specific activity	Description	Implementing organization(s)	Year of activity
2 Counter-wildlife crime	2.11 Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g., SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of patrols	In 2023, WCS supported NFA in training senior management team in use of SMART	WCS and National Forest Authority (NFA)	Ongoing (2023)
2 Counter-wildlife crime	2.13 Provide sustainable alternative livelihoods; establish fish- or domestic meat farms	Under Collaborative Forest Management groups, extra-forest (livelihood) activities like poultry keeping, pig-keeping, coffee, onion and/or potato growing and marketing are carried out so as to reduce pressure on reserve (Kazoora et al. 2020)	Kajuma Itwara Farmers and Environmental Conservation Association (KIFECA) and National Forest Authority	Ongoing: 2003
5 Protection & restoration	5.2 Legally protect ape habitat	Designated a central forest reserve in 1948. Additionally, It contains sufficient numbers of the butterfly Telipna sheffieldii to qualify as a global KBA (Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership, 2024). More protection conferred to the chimpanzee habitat	Key Biodiversity Areas	2024-ongoing

Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)

Challenges

Table 5. Challenges reported for Itwara Central Forest Reserve

Challenges	Specific challenges	Source	Year(s)
3 Engaged community	3.1 General lack of community engagement or support	(Kazoora et al. 2020)	2003
2 Resources and capacity	2.2 Lack of staff	Ministry of Water and Environment (2008): NFA, 2024	2008- Ongoing
2 Resources and capacity	2.5 Lack of equipment/transportation	Ministry of Water and Environment, 2008	2008-Ongoing
4 Institutional support	4.1 Lack of law enforcement	(Kazoora et al. 2020: NFA, 2024)	2003-Ongoing

Enablers

Table 6. Enablers reported for Itwara Central Forest Reserve

Enablers	Specific enablers	Source	Year(s)
3 Engaged community	3.6 Local community engagement and support	(Kazoora et al. 2020)	2003- ongoing

Research activities

Survey of status of chimpanzees ((Plumptre, Cox & Mugume 2003)

sixteen primate censuses, and associated vegetation sampling along two 5 km line transects located in mechanically harvested and undisturbed forest types in 1985 (Howard, 1991)

References

Edroma, E., Rosen, N. and Miller, P. 1997. (eds) Conserving the Chimpanzees of Uganda. Population and habitat viability assessment for Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, Apple Valley, MN.

Howard, P. C. (1991). Nature conservation in Uganda's tropical forest reserves (pp. xvii+-313).

Kazoora, C., Irumba, D., Smith, N., Mutamba, M., Nkabiheebwa, P., Katumba, G., & Nakiyingi, E. (2020). A review of collaborative forest management in Uganda. Kampala, Uganda: National Forestry Authority, Ministry of Water and Environment.

Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership (2024) Key Biodiversity Areas factsheet: Itwara Forest. Reserve.https://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/site/factsheet/28632. Retrieved on Nov 19, 2024.

Ministry of Water and Environment, MWE. (2008). Forest Management Plan for Itwara Group of Central Forest Reserves, for period Ist July, 2008-30th June, 2018. Kampala, Uganda.

NFA, Uganda. (2024). Itwara Forest. https://www.nfa.org.ug/forests/itwara-forest/. Retrieved on 20th Novemeber, 2024.

Plumptre, A. J., & Cox, D. (2006). Counting primates for conservation: primate surveys in Uganda. Primates, 47(1), 65-73.

Plumptre, A. J., Cox, D., & Mugume, S. (2003). The status of chimpanzees in Uganda. Albertine Rift Technical Report Series No. 2. Wildlife Conservation Society

Page created by: Steven Joel Basiibye basiibyestevens5@gmail.com Date: 2024-11-01