As a Conservation Area, Kibale National Park
As a conservation area, Kibale National Park is a priceless gift from nature to both the residents of the forest and the wildlife that calls it home. Given its variety of plants and animals, wet evergreen forest, and one of the few remaining forests with a range of landscapes that includes both lowland and montane forests, Kibale National Park has been designated as a conservation area by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Located 1,233 meters above sea level, Kibale Forest is a waterlogged forest reserve.
To preserve the national park’s flora and species, the forest was gazetted as a forest reserve in 1932 and then formally created as a national park in 1993. Large landscape eco-systems with worldwide significance can be found in Kibale National Park. Great natural occupancies with healthy populations in their native distribution pattern can be found in the park. Because of this, the area covered by forests has been declining over the past 40 years, endangering the ecosystems.
As a conservation area, Kibale National Park is not only a popular destination for tourists seeking primates and forest wildlife, but it also boasts a diverse botanical resource with over 229 tree species, all of which are 100% representative of all Ugandan tree species. The forest understory is dominated by ferns, broadleaf grasses, shade-tolerant shrubs, and herbs including Pollia condensata and Palistota schweinfurthii. Some threatened tree species include Lovoa swynnertonii, Cordia Millenii, and Entandrophragma Angolense.
As a Conservation Area, Kibale National Park is home to more than 70 mammals, including the critically endangered chimpanzee. As such, it is one of the most gratifying tourist sites for anyone seeking a full journey in the park. Forest elephants, leopards, buffaloes, huge forest hogs, bushbucks, red and blue duikers, warthogs, African golden cats, and a number of mongooses are among the nine animal species found in Kibale National Park. Because Queen Elizabeth National Park is adjacent, lions only occasionally visit the park.
Since Kibale National Park is the only national park that has been preserved for the survival of endangered primates, a discussion about chimpanzee trekking would be incomplete without mentioning it. There are thirteen different kinds of primates in this protection area, including the endangered chimpanzee.
The Kibale conservation area is also home to other primates, including as the blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, black and white colobus, and red colobus monkeys. Apart from the fauna, Kibale Forest is a fantastic place to go birdwatching. The Olive long-tailed cuckoo, the western tinker bird, the grey parrot, the African and Green-breasted bird, and the ground thrush are just a few of the more than 375 bird species that call the forest home.
Benefits to the local population are another aspect of conservation in Kibale National Park. As the Mpanga and Dura rivers run into Lake George, Kibale National serves as a water catchment region, shielding them from pollution of any type. As a conservation area, Kibale Forest generates revenue for the local population. For instance, the forest provides essential resources like food, medicine, and wild coffee. In addition to this advantage, Kibale forest regulates and safeguards the water catchment areas, which helps the climate.
