Wambabya Central Forest Reserve

Wambabya Central Forest Reserve
Wambabya Forest
Map showing the location of Wambabya Central Forest Reserve
Map showing the location of Wambabya Central Forest Reserve
Location within Uganda
LocationHoima District and Kikuube District Western Region, Uganda
Nearest cityHoima
Coordinates1°26′45.6″N 31°8′24″E / 1.446000°N 31.14000°E / 1.446000; 31.14000[1]
Area3,429 hectares
Governing bodyNational Forestry Authority

Wambabya Central Forest Reserve is located in both Hoima District and Kikuube district in Western Uganda near the north-eastern border of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve.[2][3][4] It was demarcated in 1932.[5] It is operated by the National Forest Authority (NFA).[6][4] It covers an area of 3,429 ha (13.24 sq mi).[7][4]

Wildlife[edit]

This forest is a home to many species which include chimpanzees,[8][3][9][10] forest amphibians (Golden Puddle Frog and Kivu Clawed Frog), bats (Duke of Abruzzi's, silver and mongalia free tailed bats), plant species (Mutuba trees) and birds (Yellow-fronted tinkerbird).[11][4]

Conservation status[edit]

In 2008, the National Forestry Authority (NFA) staff planted trees in the Wambabya forest on 2,000 ha (4,900 acres) of land that were encroached upon by human activity.[6] In 2011, more than 260 encroachers where given one month to vacate the forest reserve.[5]

Some of the human activities in the area that are affecting the forest cover include charcoal burning, logging, poaching, deforestation and agriculture such as rice and tobacco farming.[4][12][13][10][14]

In 2021, Wambaya Forest Conservation and Development Association received funding worth UGX 1.3 billion from the Australia Development Agency to implement a project that was dubbed "Green Lug Forestry Restoration" that aimed to reduce the conflicts between wildlife and humans. The project targeted 3,000 households in the districts of Kikuube and Hoima and the beneficiaries received tree seedlings, improved seeds of beans, banana suckers, maize, beehives and goats.[3]

A hydro power plant was constructed on River Wambabya in Buseruka subcounty but the silting of the river due to human activities has hindered power generation.[5][10][15]

The Electricity Regulatory Authority partnered with the National Forestry Authority in Uganda to plant trees in this forest reserve.[16]

Controversies[edit]

The construction of the 1,443 km (897 mi) East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) faced resistance by climate activists and environmentalists that is supposed to originate from the Kabaale Industrial Park in Hoima passing through Wambabya, Bugoma and Taala Central Forest Reserves and other places in Uganda to port Tanga in Tanzania.[17][18] This caused international banks such as HSBC, BNP Paribas and insurers such as insurer Allianz Group to not back the pipeline financially. The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), Total Exploration and Production (TotalEnergies), the Uganda National Oil Company and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Cooperation are still working on pipeline until it start transporting the crude oil in 2025. Over 14,000 households will be displaced in both Uganda and Tanzania.[19][17][20]

The National Oil Spill Contingency Plan that was launched and it showed how Uganda was prepared to handle oil spills, response mechanism to oil spills, impact of oil spills, tiers of response levels, waste management among other things.[20] Royal Norwegian Government and the Norwegian Coastal Administration helped in the creation of The National Oil Spill Contingency Plan.[20]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "OpenStreetMap". OpenStreetMap. Archived from the original on 2021-03-21. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  2. ^ "NFA STAFF TRAINED IN SMART DATA ANALYSIS". National Forestry Authority. 2021-09-10. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  3. ^ a b c "Forest encroachers given livelihood alternatives to promote conservation". New Vision. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  4. ^ a b c d e TILENGA PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (PDF). Vol. III. Uganda: Total energies. 2018. pp. 13–55, 13–56. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-07-04. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  5. ^ a b c "Wambabya forest reserve encroachers told to vacate". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  6. ^ a b "NFA must stand firm against encroachers". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  7. ^ Draft Environmental and Social Management Framework (PDF). Uganda: Ministry of Water & Environment - Uganda. 2020-01-13. p. 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  8. ^ Stephenson, P. J.; Paz, Angela Ruiz de (May 2022). "New database enhances the accessibility of global biodiversity information for conservation monitoring". Oryx. 56 (3): 329–330. doi:10.1017/S0030605322000205. ISSN 0030-6053. S2CID 248406675. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  9. ^ "Tree planting campaign aims to restore chimpanzee habitat in Bugoma forest". New Vision. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  10. ^ a b c "FORESTS IN DANGER: Bunyoro forests being eaten away by encroachers". Monitor. 2021-01-05. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  11. ^ edris (2023-02-10). "Report: How EACOP will endanger biodiversity in three forests in Uganda". The Story Idea. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  12. ^ "More forestry officers resign". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  13. ^ "Farming, tree felling hurt Hoima forests". Monitor. 2021-01-22. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  14. ^ KIBEGO, SIMON MUSASIZI & JOHN (21 October 2015). "Raffia palm trees face extinction in Bunyoro". The Observer - Uganda. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  15. ^ "Bitter-sweet exchange: forest cleared for sugarcane - Part 2". New Vision. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  16. ^ MWANJE, DAVID (4 October 2022). "Electricity Regulatory Authority in tree-planting drive". The Observer - Uganda. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  17. ^ a b URN (7 October 2019). "Tracing Uganda's crude oil pipeline". The Observer - Uganda. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  18. ^ "Tracing the route of Uganda's crude oil pipeline". Monitor. 2020-09-13. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  19. ^ VOA (14 April 2022). "East African Oil Pipeline project hits the headwinds as another insurer pulls out". The Observer - Uganda. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  20. ^ a b c MUHINDO, SAMUEL (5 April 2022). "National Oil Spill Plan will protect environment". The Observer - Uganda. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
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