<strong>Katonga</strong> <strong>Wildlife</strong> <strong>Reserve</strong>viEXECUTIVE SUMMARYA baseline biological and socio-e<strong>co</strong>nomic survey of the <strong>Katonga</strong> <strong>Wildlife</strong> <strong>Reserve</strong>, Kabarole District, wascarried out between April and September 1996.One-hundred and fifty-five species of flowering plant from 35 families were identified, and five majorvegetation types were described: savannah woodland/wooded grassland mosaic, which <strong>co</strong>vers most of thereserve, thickets, riverine woodland, and seasonal and permanent swamps. Almost a third of the reserveshowed evidence of recent disturbance. The results of previous vegetation and disturbance studies arebriefly reviewed, and past and possible future changes discussed.Twenty-eight species of large mammal from 15 families were identified, bringing the total number of largemammal species re<strong>co</strong>rded in the reserve to 30. Distribution maps and information on habitat use arepresented, and the <strong>co</strong>nservation status of each species discussed. Although there has been a drastic declinein numbers of animals, there are still populations of primates, small carnivores, hyena, leopard, aardvark,warthog, bushpig, bushbuck, blue duiker, <strong>co</strong>mmon duiker, waterbuck, and reedbuck which are likely to beviable. The reserve is also home to several species of international and national <strong>co</strong>nservation interest, suchas elephant, hippopotamus, buffalo, sitatunga, and porcupine, albeit in very small numbers, and it isimportant nationally for typically Tanzanian savannah species such as zebra and dwarf mongoose, whichare not widely distributed in Uganda.In total 13 species of small rodent, eight species of shrew, 14 species of bat, 154 species of bird, 17 speciesof reptile, 15 species of amphibians, 99 species of butterfly, and eight species of dragonfly and damselflywere re<strong>co</strong>rded, representing some 12% of the <strong>co</strong>untry’s diversity for these taxa: species accumulationcurves indicate that <strong>co</strong>llection is not yet exhausted. Three Ugandan endemics, Crocidura selina, C. tarella,and Campethera abingoni were identified, as were two species of international <strong>co</strong>nservation interest,Crocidura selina and C. gracilipes, although the <strong>co</strong>nservation status of many species is yet to be assessed.Rapid and Participatory Rural Appraisal (R/PRA) methods, including <strong>co</strong>mmunity meetings and householdinterviews were used to gather information on the <strong>co</strong>mmunities living in and around the reserve. Over halfof the households interviewed were pastoralists, whose main <strong>co</strong>ncern was access to pasture and water fortheir cattle, followed by the prevalence of ticks and tsetse flies and predation by hyena and leopard.Cultivators fell into two groups: those encroaching on the Kyaka I Refugee Settlement to the north of thereserve, who were mostly recent arrivals to the area, and those encroaching on the reserve, who weremostly longer term residents. Both groups were <strong>co</strong>ncerned with land tenure issues, particularly followingthe evictions from the reserve of June 1996 and subsequent events, as well as with crop raiding by bushpigand poor access to markets. The natural resources of the reserve, which include land and pasture, water,fuelwood and <strong>co</strong>nstruction materials, and medicinal plants, are very important to local people. Attitudestowards the reserve and its staff were shaped dramatically by the events of June and July, and weregenerally negative, although people were interested in increased <strong>co</strong>ntact. Understanding of the reserve’spurpose and <strong>co</strong>nservation issues generally was very low.Although the reserve has not been a great <strong>co</strong>nservation success to date, it is still of <strong>co</strong>nsiderable potentialand actual <strong>co</strong>nservation value, and should be maintained as a <strong>co</strong>nservation area.<strong>Frontier</strong>-Uganda <strong>Wildlife</strong> Protected Areas Project September 1997Baseline Surveys Programme Report No. 9
<strong>Katonga</strong> <strong>Wildlife</strong> <strong>Reserve</strong>viiCONTENTSPREFACEACKNOWLEDGEMENTSEXECUTIVE SUMMARYiiiiii1.0 INTRODUCTION 11.1 Aims 11.2 Site description 11.3 History 41.4 Current situation 61.5 References cited 82.0 VEGETATION SURVEY (Karen L. Zwick) 92.1 Summary 92.2 Introduction 92.2.1 Aims 92.2.2 Previous studies 92.3 Methods 132.3.1 Vegetation 132.3.2 Disturbance 142.4 Results 142.4.1 Checklist 142.4.2 Vegetation types 192.4.2.1 Savannah woodland/wooded grassland mosaic 192.4.2.2 Thickets 193.4.2.3 Riverine woodland 202.4.2.4 Seasonal swamp 202.4.2.5 Permanent swamp 202.4.3 Disturbance 212.5 Discussion 212.5.1 Vegetation changes 212.5.2 Disturbance 222.6 Conclusions 232.7 References cited 24<strong>Frontier</strong>-Uganda <strong>Wildlife</strong> Protected Areas Project September 1997Baseline Surveys Programme Report No. 9
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