Katonga Wildlife Reserve - Frontier-publications.co.uk

Katonga Wildlife Reserve 142.3.2 DisturbanceThe survey teams recorded information on all evidence of human use of the reserveencountered within the 100m wide belt transects. Different types and levels of use weresubjectively scored to give a weighted index of disturbance for each 1km UTM grid square,as shown in Table 2.1Table 2.1 Disturbance scores for different types and levels of human use of the KatongaWildlife ReserveType Level ScorePresence of cattle (direct or indirect evidence) any 2Presence of settlements 1 - 5 huts 3> 5 huts 5Presence of cultivation 1 - 10,000m 2 3> 10,000m 2 5Presence of footpaths 1 - 5 16 - 10 2> 10 3Cut branches/felled trees 1 - 5 1> 5 22.4 ResultsThe volunteer research assistants were able to use the GPS and to follow bearings and pacedistances accurately so that they could establish UTM grid references without the GPS whennecessary. They used these skills in all aspects of the fieldwork.They were able to collect and prepare botanical specimens and to record data accurately, aswell as to identify many of the specimens from the field guides and keys available, andrecognise them in the field.All 207 1km UTM grid squares within the reserve were sampled.2.4.1 ChecklistOne hundred and fifty-five species of flowering plant from 35 families were identified, aslisted in Table 2.2.Frontier-Uganda Wildlife Protected Areas Project September 1997Baseline Surveys Programme Report No. 9