The Newsletter The NaturalistVo l: 15.1 January - April 2011 NatureUganda holds its 18th Annual General Meeting Two new Collaborative Forest Management agreements in Kasyoha Kitomi CFR An innocent soul given a death sentence ESD Day Celebrations in Kisumu Kenya. Unusual Sightings Dec 2010 - Apr 2011 New bird species for Uganda at Lutembe Bay. Aloe tororoana (Reynolds) of the study were to: A new migrant species, The is a vulnerable species both Great Knot was recorded at (i) Determine population patterns internationally and within Uganda. Lutembe Bay on 8th December It was previously recorded to occur and distribution of the species, 2010 by a NatureUganda (NU) only on Tororo Rock, specifically on (ii) Monitor phenology patterns of monitoring team. This was during rock cliffs at the hill summit. Study the species, the monthly counts that started by the researche rs in Busitema in 2009. (iii) Uiniversity and Islamic University Document indigenous Since 1994, NU has been In Uganda (IUIU) investigated the knowledge and use of the conducting biannual Waterfowl counts at 33 sites usually in distribution, population pattern, species and January and July of every phenology, use and conservation (iv) Document threats to the year. However in 2009, monthly status of endemic Aloe tororoana survival of the species. counts were started at Lutembe (Reynolds) in Tororo District, Eastern and Nakiwogo bays and NU Uganda. has been able to accumulate information on migration, feeding The study was led by Dr. Edward and roosting patterns of both Andama of Busitema University. Palearctic migrants and resident Other members included Ms species of these two sites. Gauden Nantale of Busitema On the afternoon of 8th University, Dr. Sarah Nachuha of December 2010 at Lutembe bay, IUIU, Mr.Ejotre Imran of IUIU and Mr. Roger Skeen and Henry Seguya Anguti Silas, the Tororo District Forest sighted a rare Knot species. Juvenile aloe tororoana on the rock surface Officer. The immediate objectives 4 2 From Page 1 The rock crevices do not hold water reported earlier. There may also be for long as the water runs down or several important but barely known The preliminary findings of the study quickly evaporates from the rock plant species and other biodiversity indicate that Aloe tororoana also surface due to heat and exposure. resources out in the wild occurring occurred in Usukuru hills which is The team noted that the Aloe in different parts of Uganda but adjacent (about 1.5 kms ) to Tororo tororoana population in Osukuru their distribution is incomplete or was the largest compared to that are yet to be discovered. Several on Tororo rock. of these biodiversity resources just like Aloe tororoana do not The team also noted that the occur in formally gazetted or Government of Uganda recently protected areas. As such they are discovered large phosphate facing unprecedented pressure of deposits (see NewVision Jan degradation from several human 2007) in the same Osukuru hills. activities. Madhivani group of Company is set to mine these deposits in the 26 With the current increase in Parts of Osukuru hills where the species was recorded square kilometre of the Osukuru hill degradation of the natural habitats area for manufacture of chemical due to expansion of agriculture Rock. Generally, Aloe tororoana fertilizers. As such when mining activities, spread of settlements, occurred on bare and open rock starts in Osukuru hills, this may extraction of mineral resources and surfaces with minimum presence negatively impact on the survival of in addition the impact of climate of other vegetation cover. Aloe so far the largest population of Aloe change, such plant biodiversity tororoana locally known as tororoana in the habitat. may disappear from the earth’s Omulakaru (in Lusamia language) surface without full understanding was recorded to occur on steep Although there was no documented of their potential for human use. This rocks or cliffs on both Tororo rock record of the use of the plant by study is an eye opening that there and Osukuru hills. The species did humans, the study found out that are many biodiversity resources not occur at lower areas, highly the plant was extensively collected still unexplored and yet are at the vegetated hill sides, the hill bottoms from the wild by the adjacent local verge of becoming extinct. Our and community cultivated areas. communities and processed for proposal is for the government and treating a wide variety of human the stakeholders to get interested This is not like other aloe species and livestock illnesses. These in supporting endeavors to study in the area which tend to occur included fevers, cough, stomach indigenous biodiversity especially on flat and under ordinary soil pains in humans and poultry those in non gazzetted areas or conditions. Tororo rock and Osukuru diseases. private lands. hills have hanging cliffs which were formed due to geological and The current threats to the survival This study was a joint effort by TBA of the species include rock alumni in Busitema University and degradation due to farming, rock Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) excavation, settlements (house with support from Tropical Biology construction), bush burning, Association (TBA), small grants livestock and grazing. program, Busitema University and IUIU. The research team thanks Information from this short study TBA, the management of the two clearly reveals that Aloe tororoana universities especially the vice- may have a wider distribution than chancellor of Busitema University Professor J.N. Mary Okwakol, and Tororo rock where Aloe tororoana was first the Rector of IUIU Dr. Ahmed discovered Kaweesi Sengendo for their support chemical processes. This made these hills unique habitats for A. tororoana. Clusters of it were mostly By Dr. Edward Andama found hanging cliffs and rock Busitema University crevices or holes where there was accumulation of humus or dust Rock mining in Tororo rock particles. 2 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE NatureUganda holds its 18th Dear member, Annual General Meeting It is my great pleasure to th welcome you to NatureUganda held its 18 The sponsor category was vol. 15.1 of the Annual General Meeting and adopted to be added as one the 101th of the East Africa of the membership categories NatureUganda Natural History Society (EANHS) to cater for organizations and Newsletter, on the 3rd December 2011 individuals who support the the Naturalist. I at the Uganda Museum in objects of the society but don’t extend my sincere Kampala. During this AGM, a belong to any of the existing greetings and wish new Executive Committee was categories .The Executive you a prosperous not elected but the old one was Committee was assigned a 2011.Thank you given a transition period of 5 responsibility to work out details once again for entrusting me and other EC members with the leadership of the society for another transition term of five months to May 2011. As you may have heard, we didn’t nominate new EC members last AGM because of constitutional obligations which were not fulfilled. I therefore call upon all of you to nominate members early enough for the next EC to start operations after May 2011.As usual, EC’s challenge is to steer the Organization to greater heights. I count on your support, commitment and ideas to strengthen the society throughout this year. As you may remember, we communicated last year that the membership subscription renewal will always follow the calendar year and expire on 31st December of each year. The new arrangement means that membership (for all) expired on 31st December 2010. I therefore call upon everyone to renew their membership for the calendar year 2011 to enable us to continue serving you. The m-sente mobile money number which will ease membership renewals is 0713 540 719. We opted for UTL service because it receives and sends money to all other networks and please, always remember to add withdrawal costs. I am happy to inform you that through our vigorous campaigns, NU managed to secure some funds from the Whitley Award, RSPB and USAID STAR and the society is still involved in Members on one of the nature walks vigorous fundraising campaigns with proposals already submitted for the winding down months up to the next AGM to of who qualifies and how projects like Echuya in Kabale, and PEMA allow for enough preparations much he/she pays to be in this in Bushenyi. I extend sincere thanks and in line with the amended category. A motion was also appreciation to all our development partners constitutional requirements. passed to have our financial and stake holders and wish you good reading year start in January and end in as we continue to promote the understanding, The revised constitution requires December which implied that appreciation and conservation of nature all nominations to be sent to the the next AGM was scheduled secretariat 21 days before the for April/May 2011 and not the From AGM date and a nominated usual November/December Mr. Paul Mafabi member must approve his/her plan Chairman-NatureUganda nomination. During this AGM, some resolutions were passed. | 3 FROM THE FIELD A date with the Nightjars Karamoja Apalis, why in MFNP all of a sudden? Trips to Murchison Falls NP have always produced This is an East African endemic with the Ugandan surprising moments. In Jan 2011,having ended our population mostly seen in Mt Moroto areas. Having bird monitoring counts in Rabongo areas a bit late, monitored sites in Iriri for over 10 years, it was meant we were never going to reach Paraa earlier interesting to have this much localized species in than 8:00 pm. Time check 7:20 pm – 7:40 pm, about 10 two of our sites for the very first time in February Km on Sambiya – Rabongo road, we counted about 2011.