Location: Kanungu District Map
Area: 331 km2 (128 mi2)
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a nature reserve in the Kanungu District of Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park protects an area of 331 km2 (128 mi2) of tropical rainforest. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a nature preserve situate in the South West part of Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies on the border of the Rift Valley and is covered by dense rainforest that date back at least 25,000 years ago. It is one of the forests in Africa that survived the last Ice Age. While other forests were decimated by a climate change, area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park flourished. Today it houses 346 species of birds (23 species are endemic to the region), 400 species of plants and over 120 species of various mammals including 11 species of primates. Obviously the most famous residents of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are gorillas those number is estimated to be around 360.
History
In 1932, two blocks of Bwindi were officially
approved as the Royal Forest Trust. The northern part was called
"Kayonza Crown Forest Reserve", the southern one - "Kasatora Crown
Forest Reserve". The total area of these reserves was 207 km². In
1942, both sites were merged, expanded, and named "Impenetrable Central
Crown Forest". This new protected area covered an area of 298 km². The
park was under the joint control of the government of Uganda and the
Ministry of Forestry.
In 1964, the reserve was declared a
sanctuary for animals, in particular, to preserve the population of
mountain gorillas, and was renamed the "Impenetrable Central Forest
Reserve". In 1966, two other forest reserves became part of the main
park, increasing its area to 321 km².
Legislation was drafted in
1991 declaring Bwindi, along with Mgahinga and Rwenzori National Parks
(established in 1991), as mountain gorilla sanctuaries. Its area was
330.8 km². Many species of plants and animals are protected in the
national park, in particular, mountain gorillas. The expansion of the
protected area has had an impact on the Pygmies living in its territory.
All of them have been evicted from the forest and are not allowed in the
national park.
Bwindi has been a popular tourist destination
since 1993. In 1994, it was included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Park management has changed with the Uganda Wildlife Authority becoming
responsible for the area. In 2003, 4.2 km² of territory was added to the
protected area.
Geography and climate
Bwindi National Park is
located in southwestern Uganda. In the western part of the park is the
border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The area is 331 km².
The city of Kabale in the southeast is the nearest settlement to Bwindi.
The park consists of two blocks of forest, the shape of which resembles
the shape of two separate areas taken under protection in 1932. The
blocks are connected by a small "corridor". There are agricultural lands
located in places where previously the forest was not part of the
protected area. There is a very well developed human activity.
According to the geological structure, the park consists of Precambrian
crystalline schists, quartzite, and granite. It is located on the
western edge of the Great Rift Valley. The terrain is very rugged, with
narrow valleys intersected by rivers and steep hills. Altitude ranges
from 1190 to 2607 meters above sea level, 60% of the park is located at
an altitude of more than 2000 meters. The highest point, Rwamunyonyi
Hill, is located on the eastern edge of the park. The lowest point is in
the northern part.
The forest is an important watershed area.
Most of the precipitation is streams. It contains the sources of many
rivers that flow west, north and south. The largest rivers are Ivi,
Munyaga, Ilihizo, Ishasha, which flow into Lake Eduard. Other rivers
flow into lakes Mutanda and Bunioni. Water from the national park is
used in neighboring agricultural areas.
Bwindi has a tropical
type of climate. The temperature ranges from 7-17 to 20-27°C. Annual
rainfall 1400-1900 mm; most of them fall from March to April and from
September to November.
Flora and fauna
The forest of Bwindi is
an old, complex and very rich biosystem. The variety of species is a
feature of the park, due to its ecological importance it has become a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the East African forests, Bwindi has
the richest population of trees, small mammals, reptiles and
butterflies. The diversity of flora and fauna is explained by the
different altitudes above sea level. During the cold snap in the
Pleistocene era, the forest was a refuge for many animal species.
The park contains the Afromontane type of vegetation, which is quite
rare on the African continent. Such vegetation is located at the
confluence of mountain and lowland forests. The flora is represented by
220 tree species (over 50% of Uganda's tree species) and over 100 fern
species. The rare tree species Lovoa swynnertonii grows here and is
endangered due to habitat loss.
Bwindi is home to 120 species of
mammals, 10 of which are primates. The protected area is important for
the conservation of afromontane fauna species, especially endemic
species from the western part of the Great Rift Valley. Along with
mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), other species of animals
are common in the park, such as common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes),
mountain monkey (Cercopithecus lhoesti), African elephants (Loxodonta),
Pseudocalyptomena graueri, Papilio leucotaenia, colobus (Colobus),
red-tailed marmoset (Cercopithecus ascanius), vervet monkeys
(Chlorocebus pygerythrus), big wood pig (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni),
and some small antelopes. Carnivores in Bwindi include the striped
jackal (Lupulella adusta), the golden cat (Profelis aurata) and the
African civet (Civettictis civetta). The national park is home to over
350 bird species and 200 butterfly species. The number of fish species
in rivers and lakes is unknown.
Security
Bwindi National Park
has full protection, although few people living near it are given access
to some resources.
The areas bordering the park are very densely
populated, more than 300 people live per 1 km². Some of these people are
the poorest citizens of Uganda. High population density and agriculture
put great pressure on the forest and constitute the greatest threat to
it. 90% of the inhabitants depend on subsistence agriculture, as it
provides a small income.
Prior to the official recognition of
Bwindi as a national park in 1991, access to forest resources was more
free. The locals hunted, cut down the forest and kept the bees in the
park. It has been declared a national park due to its biodiversity and
threat to the integrity of the forest. Designation as a national park
has increased protection. Access to the forest was immediately
prohibited. The ban caused a lot of conflicts with local residents. The
Twa, who leaned entirely on the forest, were seriously injured. They
fished and extracted honey, their ancestors have long lived in the park.
People lost livestock and crops, there were casualties.
Tourism
Tourists can visit the national park at any time of the year, although
the rainy season creates unpleasant conditions for access to Bwindi. The
roads are in poor condition and access to the park is extremely
difficult.
Mountain gorilla watching is the main attraction of
the protected area. People wishing to track gorillas must first obtain a
permit. There are strict rules for tourists to minimize the risk of
disease transmission from humans to gorillas. The guided tour includes a
visit to the waterfall and gorilla and bird watching.