Research findings presented by:Kyongera Denis (Makerere Univ.)

BSc Conservation Biology (Honours)MSc in Zoology (Wildlife Option): 2013-2015

September 2015

Mapping of Overlaps of Medium to Large Private Sector Investments and Great Ape

Habitat in the Albertine Rift, Western Uganda

General objective:Assess potential impact of private sector investments on the habitats of great ape in order to identify areas to examine conservation/development issues

What I did:1. Mapped great apes habitats in Western Uganda;2. Mapped existing and planned medium to large private

sector investments;3. Mapped areas of impact of private sector investment on

great ape habitats.

Objectives

Albertine Rift Study Area

Land cover/use class Area in Km2 Percentage

Great apes habitat coverage (protected and non protected): 1. Tropical high Forest 4,328 7.12. Degraded Forest 1,443 2.4Sub total 5,771 9.5

Large scale investments (crops): 1. Sugar cane plantation 147 0.22. Tea plantation 144 0.23. Rice Plantation 59 0.1Subtotal 350 0.5

Planted forestry: 1. Broad Leaved Plantation 16 02. Coniferous Plantation 76 0.1Subtotal 92 0.2

Other land cover/use types: 48,548 79.6Grand Total 60974 100

Land cover/land use in the Albertine Rift

Enterprise infrastructure in and around great ape habitat

Type of Investment No. sitesAgricultural enterprisesTea factories 18Cotton Ginneries 5Coffee factories 46Cocoa factory 1Dairy 22Commercial farms 10Horticulture 2Saw Mills 10Research centers 2Tree planting 1Irrigation sites 1Fish processing plants 14Sub total 132Tourism Infrastructure 32Grand total 164

Summary of mapped investments

Sugar plantations associated with Budongo Forest Reserve

Forest Reserve - green Sugar - orange

Tea and rice plantations around protected areas

Forests Reserves - green Tea – yellowRice - pick

Forests Reserves - green Tea - yellow

Tea plantations associated with Kalinzu and Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest Reserves

Planned private sector investments in the southern section of Albertine Region

Conclusions

Private sector investments overlap or are in close proximity with great apes habitat.

Overlap zones could threaten great apes habitats.

Overlap zones therefore need to be a focus for conservation of great apes.

Overlap zones create potential for positive conservation actions.

Collaboration between private sector and conservation partners is required to conserve great apes habitat.

THANK YOU

Floor open to discussions