Status of illegal resource extraction within Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Uganda: Baseline studies near four hydropower projects

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Collins Edward Bulafu ◽  
David Mwesigye Tumusiime ◽  
Svein Erik Hårklau ◽  
George Owuor
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Resource Extraction ◽  
Rwenzori Mountains

scholarly journals Recent climate-driven ecological changes in tropical montane lakes of Rwenzori Mountains National Park, central Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anson W. Mackay ◽  
Rebecca Lee ◽  
James M. Russell
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
National Park ◽  
Organic Geochemistry ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Rwenzori Mountains ◽  
High Profile ◽  
The Past ◽  
Low Profile ◽  
Recent Climate

Abstract Rwenzori Mountains National Park, which straddles the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, has experienced rapid glacier loss since the beginning of the twentieth century, yet there has been little investigation of aquatic biodiversity change in the park. This study presents a paleolimnological analysis from Lake Mahoma (2990 m asl), which is situated in the bamboo-forest transition zone. Diatom and organic geochemistry data from a 39-cm-long sediment core with a basal age of c. 1715 CE were compared with new analyses of previously published data from Lakes Bujuku (3891 m asl) and Lower Kitandara (3989 m asl), in the alpine zone. Comparisons were made to determine if aquatic ecosystem changes exhibited similar inter-lake patterns over the past ~ 150 years of climate warming and glacial recession, or if only local change was apparent. The diatom flora of Lake Mahoma is acidophilous, dominated by Aulacoseira ikapoënsis since at least the mid eighteenth century. In recent decades, the obligate nitrogen-heterotroph Nitzschia palea increased in importance, concurrent with declining δ15Norg values. We suggest that these late twentieth century changes were linked to regional warming and increased thermal stratification of Lake Mahoma. Regional comparisons of the Rwenzori lakes were done using existing organic geochemistry records (total organic carbon, C/N and δ13Corg) and through diatom compositional turnover analyses, and categorisation of species into one of four diatom growth morphology traits, or guilds: tychoplanktonic, high-profile, low-profile and motile. Over the past 150 years, all three lakes showed unidirectional, compositional diatom turnover, indicating that deterministic processes had affected diatom communities. Declining turnover at each site is broadly mirrored by an increase in tychoplanktonic taxa, along with concomitant declines in high-profile diatoms at Lake Mahoma, and low-profile diatoms at Lake Bujuku, and at least for the past 60 years, at Lower Kitandara. The interplay between diatom guilds at all sites is mainly a consequence of competition for available resources. Sediment organic carbon at all sites comes from both autochthonous and allochthonous sources, the relative abundances of which are influenced by the time elapsed since lakes had glaciers in their catchment.

scholarly journals Physicochemical properties of tropical forest top soil in relation to depth in western Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-48
Author(s):  
B. Gautam ◽  
M. K. Chettri
Keyword(s):  
Physicochemical Properties ◽  
Soil Nutrients ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
National Park ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Resource Extraction ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Top Soil

Information on soil properties with regards to forest soil-depth are important for sustainable management of forest. The present study investigated the physicochemical properties of the top soil (0−30cm depth) in the three forests, viz. i) the Terai Shorea Forest (Bardia National Park), ii) the Evergreen Riverine Forest (Bardia National Park) and iii) the Puraina CF (Kailali district) of western Nepal. In the tropical forests of western Nepal, the soil texture is, moreover, loamy sand to sand. The soil bulk density ranged from 1.33−1.63 gm cm-3, and slightly increased with the increase in the soil-depth. The soil pH value ranged from 5.77−7.36. The soil organic carbon, total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), and available potassium (K) were found to be in the ranges of 0.54−1.64%, 0.04−0.14%, 4.84−31.72 kg ha-1, and 204.35−557.44 kg ha-1, respectively, and all these values decreased with the increase in the soil-depth in both the forests of the protected area; however, this decreasing trend of the soil nutrients with the increase in the soil-depth was not observed in the Puraina CF as the values of the soil nutrients were lower within 0−10cm in the CF. The soil nutrients with all the depths were found to be the highest in the Terai Shorea Forest. The lower values of the soil nutrients in the Puraina CF were the result of resource extraction.  

scholarly journals Spatial patterns of illegal resource extraction in Kibale National Park, Uganda

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
CATRINA A. MACKENZIE ◽  
COLIN A. CHAPMAN ◽  
RAJA SENGUPTA
Keyword(s):  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Kibale National Park ◽  
Resource Extraction ◽  
Resource Access ◽  
Community Associations ◽  
Wood Extraction

SUMMARYConservation policy typically excludes people from national parks and manages encroachment by law enforcement. However, local people continue to extract resources from protected areas by boundary encroachment and poaching. This paper quantifies the patterns of illegal resource extraction from Kibale National Park in Uganda, the demand for Park resources by communities bordering the Park, and examines whether designated resource access agreements reduce illegal extraction. Sections of the Park boundary were examined and human entry trails, wood extraction, livestock grazing, and animal poaching signs were quantified. Levels of illegal extraction were compared with the demand for and admitted illegal access to resources inside the Park, collected in a survey of households located near the Park. Extraction was also compared between villages with and without negotiated resources access agreements. The most wanted and extracted resource from the Park was wood for fuel and construction. Implementation of resource access agreements with local community associations was found to be an effective means of reducing illegal extraction, but only if the association members profited from the agreement.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document