Browsing by Author "Kalema, James"

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    The flora of highly degraded and vulnerable wetland ecosystems of Nyamuriro and Doho, Uganda
    (African Journal of Ecology, 2007) Kalema, James; Ssegawa, Paul
    The wetlands of Nyamuriro and Doho were surveyed for their flora during the period August 2001 and May 2002. These two wetlands are highly degraded through cultivation. The plants in these areas were documented with a view to determining their richness and conservation importance in Uganda. Two hundred and eight species were recorded in 140 genera, 63 families and 37 orders in Nyamuriro while 184 species, 109 genera, 39 families and 27 orders were recorded in Doho. Although there are no species of global priority conservation concern, these wetlands harbour reasonable numbers of plant species, some of them rare, for their size. Nyamuriro has five species of restricted range in the country occurring in only one of the four floristic regions. Adenostemma caffrum DC. var. longifolium Chiov., from Nyamuriro, is a new record for Uganda. Typically high-elevation species absent in most wetlands in Uganda, were recorded in Nyamuriro. Plants rare in Uganda were recorded from both Doho and Nyamuriro. These two wetland ecosystems are therefore still vital for the country’s flora in terms of species richness, rarity and uniqueness. Nyamuriro needs urgent action to reverse the current trend of habitat loss and degradation. Doho was severely altered and there is a little chance for restoration.
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    A Nationwide Assessment of the Biodiversity Value of Uganda’s Important Bird Areas Network
    (Conservation Biology, 2006) Tushabe, Herbert; Kalema, James; Byaruhanga, Achilles; Asasira, Josephine; Ssegawa, Paul; Balmford, Andrew; Davenport, Tim; Fjeldsa, Jon; Friis, Ib; Pain, Deborah; Pomeroy, Derek; Williams, Paul; Williams, Charles
    BirdLife International’s Important Bird Areas (IBA) program is the most developed global system for identifying sites of conservation priority. There have been few assessments, however, of the conservation value of IBAs for nonavian taxa.We combined past data with extensive new survey results for Uganda’s IBAs in the most comprehensive assessment to date of the wider biodiversity value of a tropical country’s IBA network. The combined data set included more than 35,000 site × species records for birds, butterflies, and woody plants at 86 Ugandan sites (23,400 km2), including 29 of the country’s 30 IBAs, with data on additional taxa for many sites. Uganda’s IBAs contained at least 70% of the country’s butterfly and woody plant species, 86% of its dragonflies and 97% of its birds. They also included 21 of Uganda’s 22 major vegetation types. For butterflies, dragonflies, and some families of plants assessed, species of high conservation concern were well represented (less so for the latter). The IBAs successfully represented wider biodiversity largely because many have distinctive avifaunas and, as shown by high cross-taxon congruence in complementarity, such sites tended to be distinctive for other groups too. Cross-taxon congruence in overall species richness was weaker and mainly associated with differences in site size. When compared with alternative sets of sites selected using complementarity-based, area-based, or random site-selection algorithms, the IBA network was efficient in terms of the number of sites required to represent species but inefficient in terms of total area. This was mainly because IBA selection considers factors other than area, however, which probably improves both the cost-effectiveness of the network and the persistence of represented species.
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    Non Timber Forest Products Trade and Community Livelihoods around Mabira Central Forest Reserve, Uganda
    (Journal of Agricultural Studies, 2016) Tugume, Patience; Buyinza, Mukadasi; Kakudidi, Esezah; Mucunguzi, Patrick; Kalema, James; Mugisha, Maud Kamatenesi; Namaalwa, Justine
    This paper generates data on the diversi ty and value of non timber forest products (NTFP) traded in markets adjacent to Mabira Central forest reserve. The objective of the study was to evaluate the contribution of NTFP trade to the livelihoods of trader s’ households . Q uarterly market surveys and field observations were conducted in eleven markets in 2014 . All NTFP traders were interviewed using semi structured questionnaires . Simple profitability method was used to determine the profit margins of the traded products. The per capita value of NTFP traded was calculated and was highest for drums ($ 3,101) and lowest for winnowing trays ($3). All products had profit margins above 60%. Income generated from NTFP was used to cater for other essential needs like payment of school fees, medic al treatment, buying food and other household items. NTFP trade has potential of improving the lives of traders through establishment of NTFP enterprises. In order for such enterprises to be successful traded forest products must be harvested sustainably t o ensure consistent supply of the products. Multipurpose species like Markhamia lutea, Phoenix reclinata, Raphia farinefera and Calamus sp could be domesticated to minimize pressure on the forest.
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    Species communities and associations formed by the family Cyperaceae Juss. in some of Uganda’s wetlands
    (African Journal of Ecology, 2008) Ssegawa, Paul; Kalema, James
    This study was conducted between August 2000 and April 2001 in ten wetlands areas of Uganda and these included Lakes Bisina, Nakuwa and Opeta, including the Doho Rice Scheme in the Lake Kyoga basin; Mabamba and Lutembe bays, Lake Nabugabo, Musambwa islands and Lutoboka peninsula in the Lake Victoria basin; and Nyamuriro swamp in Kigezi region. This study focused on Cyperaceae because of their known abundance in wet or damp areas. The aim was to assess the diversity and examine the communities and associations formed by sedges. Floristic data were collected using quadrats along transects. Cluster analysis was used to analyse for species associations. Principal components analysis was used to determine the descriptive species of the sites of the wetlands. A total of 113 taxa in 107 species belonging to 17 genera and classified into seven tribes were identified. The most rare species included Eleocharis dulcis (Burm. f.) Henschel and Cyperus iria L. Using cluster analysis the ten sites of the wetlands were classified into sedge assemblages that generally reflected ecoregional differences between the Lake Kyoga and Victoria basins. The three distinct clusters formed from cluster analysis also revealed species assemblages that represented associations of these sedges found in the sites of each cluster.
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    Tree species composition and diversity in Agoro-Agu Central Forest Reserve, Lamwo District, Northern Uganda
    (International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 2021) Okullo, John B. L.; Afai, Sylvano; Nangendo, Grace; Kalema, James
    Tree species composition and diversity were assessed in Agoro-Agu Central Forest Reserve located in Lamwo district-Northern Uganda. Fifteen transects, each 2 km long, were established in the reserve. A procedure of nested quadrats was employed for a systematic sampling of mature trees, saplings and seedlings at 100 m interval(s). Vegetation analysis was conducted in Species Diversity and Richness (SDRiv) software. A total of 100 species of trees belonging to 36 families were recorded. The dominant tree species, also with high Importance Value Indices were Combretum molle G. Don, Albizia grandibracteata Taub. and Vachellia hockii De Wild. Tree species diversity was higher in the intact part (H’=3.46) than in the degraded part (H’=2.86). Lower diversity in the degraded part of the reserve could be due to human disturbance and resulting conducive condition for the early establishment of pioneer species during succession. The occurrence of mixed species with indicator species for both savannah woodlands and Afromontane tree species indicates that Agoro-Agu is an enriched forest for enhanced conservation. Management options that limit continuous degradations such as the enforcement of environmental laws, tree enrichment planting, and ex-situ conservation should be undertaken to restore the status of trees in the degraded part of the reserve.