Kagombe Central Forest Reserve is a 301-square-kilometre (74,000-acre) forest reserve located in Western
Uganda's district of
Kagadi and Nyamarundu sub county.[2][3][4][5] It is also located in Uganda's
Albertine Rift ecoregion area renowned for its rich biodiversity.[6]
Conservation Status
Kagombe forest reserve was designated in 1932[5] and is managed by Uganda's
National Forestry Authority (NFA).[2] It is home to different flora and fauna including chimpanzees.[7] Other species in the forest include
Elgon Olive, Preminor Angoles, Macamia platicalex,
Ebony and Abezia.[5] In 2019, NFA evicted encroachers from Kagombe Forest Reserve to support restoration of Uganda's
forest cover and ensure conservation of protected areas.[4][8][9] In 2022, the NFA in partnership with the
World Wide Fund for Nature, Uganda launched a forest restoration drive for Kagombe and
Bugoma forest reserves.[10][11][12]
Threats
The forest reserve is threatened by encroachment, charcoal burning, crop raiding, forest fires, illegal
pitsawing and medicinal plant collection.[4][7][13][14] Hunting of bush meat with dogs and nets in Kagombe Forest is prevalent since the forest is less intensively visited by staff.[14] Chimpanzees in Kagombe are affected by indiscriminate effects of snaring using spears and bows.[14] In the previous decade,
agribusiness has devastated nearly three-quarters of Kagombe Central Forest Reserve. Since 2000, over 13000-hectares of Kagombe forest has been encroached on by locals in Kagadi district.[4][15][16] Some local communities have joined together to counteract the effects of
climate change through
afforestation and patrolling.[17]
^Plumptre, Andrew J.; Davenport, Tim R. B.; Behangana, Mathias; Kityo, Robert; Eilu, Gerald; Ssegawa, Paul; Ewango, Corneille; Meirte, Danny; Kahindo, Charles; Herremans, Marc; Peterhans, Julian Kerbis; Pilgrim, John D.; Wilson, Malcolm; Languy, Marc; Moyer, David (2007-01-01).
"The biodiversity of the Albertine Rift". Biological Conservation. Conservation in Areas of High Population Density in Sub-Saharan Africa. 134 (2): 178–194.
doi:
10.1016/j.biocon.2006.08.021.
ISSN0006-3207.
^
abcPlumptre A.J., Cox, D. & Mugume, S. (2003) The Status of Chimpanzees in Uganda. Albertine Rift Technical Report Series No. 2. Wildlife Conservation Society