Changing Forest-Woodland-Savanna Mosaics in Uganda: with Implications for Conservation
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CHANGING FOREST-WOODLAND-SAVANNA MOSAICS IN UGANDA: WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION Grace Nangendo Promoters: Prof. Dr. F.J.J.M. Bongers Personal Professorship at Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, The Netherlands Prof. Dr. Ir. A. De Gier Professor, Geo-information for Forestry / Department of Natural Resources International Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), Enschede, The Netherlands Co-promoter: Dr. H. ter Steege Chair Plant Systematics (Ag.), Nationaal Herbarium Nederland - Utrecht Branch Utrecht University, The Netherlands Examining Committee: Dr. J. F. Duivenvoorden, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands Prof. Dr. M. J. A. Werger, Utrecht University, The Netherlands Dr. J. R. W. Aluma, National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Uganda Prof. Dr. M. S. M. Sosef, Wageningen University, The Netherlands CHANGING FOREST-WOODLAND-SAVANNA MOSAICS IN UGANDA: WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION Grace Nangendo Thesis To fulfil the requirements for the degree of Doctor on the authority of the Rector Magnificus of Wageningen University, Prof. Dr. Ir. L. Speelman, to be publicly defended on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 at 15:00 hrs in the auditorium at ITC, Enschede, The Netherlands. ISBN: 90-8504-200-3 ITC Dissertation Number: 123 International Institute for Geo-information Science & Earth Observation, Enschede, The Netherlands © 2005 Grace Nangendo CONTENTS Abstract ........................................................................................................................ iii Samenvatting.................................................................................................................v Acknowledgements................................................................................................... vii 1. Vegetation variation in forest-woodland-savanna mosaics .............................1 1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................1 1.2. FWS mosaics and the underlying processes...........................................2 1.3. Occurrence of forest-woodland-savanna mosaics .................................4 1.4. Selection of study area...............................................................................5 1.5. Budongo Forest Reserve............................................................................6 1.6. Outline of this dissertation......................................................................10 2. Mapping vegetation cover of Budongo forest - a comparison of classifiers11 Abstract ....................................................................................................................11 2.1. Introduction ..............................................................................................12 2.2. Materials and Methods............................................................................13 2.3. Results........................................................................................................19 2.4. Discussion..................................................................................................24 3. Tree composition of a dynamic forest-woodland-savanna mosaic in Uganda: implications for conservation and management. .................................27 Abstract ....................................................................................................................27 3.1. Introduction ..............................................................................................28 3.2. Materials and methods............................................................................29 3.3. Results........................................................................................................33 3.4. Discussion..................................................................................................41 4. Biodiversity Conservation through Burning: A Case Study of Woodlands in Budongo Forest Reserve, NW Uganda...............................................................47 4.1. The Budongo Forest Reserve ..................................................................48 4.2. The management history of Budongo forest ........................................48 4.3. Materials and methods............................................................................49 4.4. Results........................................................................................................51 4.5. Discussion..................................................................................................53 i 4.6. Conclusions ...............................................................................................56 5. Relationship between vegetation cover change and species distribution dynamics ......................................................................................................................57 Abstract ....................................................................................................................57 5.1. Introduction ..............................................................................................58 5.2. Methods and materials ............................................................................59 5.3. Results........................................................................................................63 5.4. Discussion..................................................................................................70 5.5. Conclusion.................................................................................................73 6. Response of different vegetation types to a similar fire regime: a comparison of vegetation types after 46 years of burning..................................75 Abstract ....................................................................................................................75 6.1. Introduction ..............................................................................................76 6.2. Materials and methods............................................................................77 6.3. Results........................................................................................................82 6.4. Discussion..................................................................................................90 7. Changing forest-woodland-savanna mosaics: Synthesis and implications for conservation ..........................................................................................................95 7.1. Introduction ..............................................................................................95 7.2. Vegetation cover and woody plant variation within the mosaic.......96 7.3. Changes in vegetation cover and its relationship with species composition and management..............................................................................98 7.4. Impact of regular fire on woody plant survival...................................99 7.5. Fire, species composition and vegetation structure interrelationship in the study area....................................................................................................100 7.6. Conservation implications ....................................................................101 7.7. Conclusions .............................................................................................104 7.8. Areas of further research.......................................................................104 References..................................................................................................................107 Appendices ................................................................................................................123 ITC Dissertation list.................................................................................................133 ii ABSTRACT Forest-Woodland-Savanna (FWS) mosaics are complex, highly varied and dynamic landscapes that cover extensive areas of the tropical world. Until recently, these mosaics were, however, considered poor in terms of biodiversity. In addition, most specialists viewed them as either mismanaged forest areas or an intermediate stage in a gradual forest degradation towards savanna. Consequently, only few scientific studies have been done on FWS mosaics and little attention has been paid to their conservation. In Uganda, several FWS mosaics have been identified as areas of high biodiversity but no specific plans for their conservation have been made. Little, however, is known about the species variation within these mosaics and how they have changed over time. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the spatial and temporal variation in the FWS vegetation and to identify the environmental factors that maintain that variation. The northern part of Budongo Forest Reserve, located in northwestern Uganda, was selected as the main study site because the forest has high species diversity, has low variation in some environmental variables e.g. soil types and has a fairly well known management history. For a specific focus on the effect of fire on woody plants, an area in the southern part of Murchison Falls National Park, located immediately north of Budongo forest, was selected. Five vegetation cover classes (VCC) and a burnt area cover class were identified in the Budongo study area and were best classified using Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) combined with an Expert System (overall accuracy was 94.6%). The VCC were well distinguishable