Mpanga-Site-Visit-Re.. - Cycad Specialist Group

Photo 10. Cycad Nursery
Observations
1. Efforts by the contractor to translocate cycads had come to a halt due to
intense pressure to complete the dam construction and power generation
contract by October 2010 resulting in all personnel working day and night.
The Makerere team had also not visited the site for 3 months because the
contractor had said that they needed to complete the construction of the
canal before they could spare any personnel for cycad replanting.
2. The large area of cycads on the eastern side of the Gorge had been burnt by
local landowners apparently as part of their normal farming practice of grass
regeneration for their livestock (photo 11) and was commented on strongly
by the contractor as a major impact on the cycad population.
3. Cycads in the nursery and those already replanted in the Project area were
not all doing well due a certain lack of care and attention.
4. Damage to mature cycads was ongoing as a result of continued project
earthworks (blasting) and construction (photo 12).