TORO-SEMLIKI WILDLIFE RESERVE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 2020/21 – 2029/30 A Growing Population of Uganda Kobs in the Reserve TSWR GMP 2020/21 - 2029/30 TORO-SEMLIKI WILDLIFE RESERVE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 2020/21 – 2029/30 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.........................................................................................................................................................................v FOREWORD..............................................................................................................................................................................................vi APPROVAL...............................................................................................................................................................................................vii ACRONYMS.............................................................................................................................................................................................viii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY........................................................................................................................................................................x PART 1: BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................................................1.1 THE PLANNING PROCESS...................................................................................................................................................................1 1.1.1 The Planning team................................................................................................................................................................1 1.2 ENABLING POLICY AND LEGISLATION.......................................................................................................................2 1.2.1 Constitution of The Republic Of Uganda 1995.....................................................................................................2 1.2.2 Biodiversity management policies.............................................................................................................................2 1.2.3 Legal framework for biodiversity management.................................................................................................3 1.2.4 National Development Plans..........................................................................................................................................6 1.2.5 International and Regional frameworks for biodiversity management in Uganda.........................6 PART 2: RESERVE DESCRIPTION AND MANAGEMENT....................................................................................7 2.1 Location.....................................................................................................................................................................................8 2.2 Access........................................................................................................................................................................................9 2.3 Reserve management history.......................................................................................................................................9 2.4 Climate and Hydrology....................................................................................................................................................10 2.5 Geology and Soils...............................................................................................................................................................12 2.6 Socio-Economic Environment....................................................................................................................................15 2.7 Flora (Vegetation)..............................................................................................................................................................16 2.7.1 Land cover 1964.............................................................................................................................................................16 2.7.2 Land cover description between 2007 - 1990..............................................................................................17 2.7.3 Land Cover Trends in TSWR between 1990–2016.....................................................................................19 2.7.4 TSWR Land Cover in 2017.........................................................................................................................................20 2.8 Fauna........................................................................................................................................................................................22 2.8.1 Animal distribution in the reserve........................................................................................................................22 2.8.2 Distribution of Birds in the Reserve.....................................................................................................................27 2.9 Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve Surrounding Ecosystems.............................................................................32 2.9.1 Lake Albert (Bordering TSWR)...............................................................................................................................32 2.9.2 The Semliki Flats...........................................................................................................................................................32 2.9.3 The Rwangara Wetland Area..................................................................................................................................32 2.10 Sensitivity of TSWR Ecosystems...............................................................................................................................33 2.11 Distribution of Features Critical for Animal Survival.......................................................................................35 2.11.1 Watering Points.............................................................................................................................................................36 2.11.2 Kobleks...............................................................................................................................................................................36 2.11.3 Salt Licks............................................................................................................................................................................36 PART 3: RESERVE CONSERVATION VALUES, PURPOSE AND MANAGEMENT ZONES........................37 3.1 TSWR conservation values...........................................................................................................................................38 3.2 TSWR ten years’ management purpose..............................................................................................................38 3.3 TSWR management zones..........................................................................................................................................39 3.3.1 Zone descriptions.........................................................................................................................................................39 PART 4: MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, OUTPUTS AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES........................................42 4.1 MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS..........................................................................................................................................43 4.1.1 Resource conservation and management program................................................................................43 4.1.2 Research and Ecological Monitoring program..............................................................................................53 4.1.3 Capacity development program...........................................................................................................................57 TSWR GMP 2020/21 - 2029/30 II TORO-SEMLIKI WILDLIFE RESERVE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 2020/21 – 2029/30 4.1.4 Community conservation program....................................................................................................................63 4.1.5 Tourism development & financial sustainability program....................................................................69 4.1.6 Governance & Corporate affairs program......................................................................................................79 PART 5: COST ESTIMATES......................................................................................................................................81 PART 6: MONITORING AND EVALUATION.........................................................................................................87 6.1 Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.................................................................................................................88 APPENDIX 1: Monitoring and Evaluation tables.............................................................................................89 Appendix 2: Challenges and issues generated and prioritized during the planning process.......141 2.1 Resource conservation and management.........................................................................................................141 2.2 Research and ecological monitoring.....................................................................................................................142