Country: Uganda
Administrative region: Northern (Region)
Central co-ordinates: 3.62318 N, 32.75930 E
C(iii)Site contains nationally threatened or restricted habitat or vegetation types, AND/OR habitats that have severely declined in extent nationally
Lalak CFR triggers sub-criterion C(iii) of the IPA criteria, as it contains >10% of the national resource of lowland bamboo habitat a critically endangered habitat within Uganda, as well as being one of the best 5 sites nationally for the habitat. Further botanical inventory of the site is required to assess Lalak CFR under criteria A and B.
Lalak Central Forest Reserve (CFR) is located along the Achwa river range in Lamwo district, Northern Uganda. It encompasses the Lalak rock formation, rising to 1752 m, and is approximately 10 km running north to south and spans just under 3 km from east to west (Cole & Forrest 2022). It is one of several inselbergs which flank the south of the Agoro-Agu mountains, containing the Agoro-Agu IPA in Uganda and which is part of the Imatong mountain range which extends into South Sudan. The next closest mountain is Lamwa, 11 km to the east, reaching 1879 m in elevation.
The region is generally hot and dry, alternating between dry and rainy seasons, with temperatures reaching as high as 27C, and as low as 17C. The rainy season in the region spans March through November, with the highest average rainfall peaking in April and August. December through to mid-March marks the dry season, characterised by wind and dry heat.
This IPA also includes areas to the north of the original delimitation of the CFR, where nationally rare lowland bamboo habitat has been identified. Further fieldwork is required to assess the extent of lowland bamboo that is viable, and so the site boundary may be refined in the future.
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Habitat | Qualifying sub-criterion | ≥ 5% of national resource | ≥ 10% of national resource | 1 of 5 best sites nationally | Areal coverage at site |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lowland Bamboo (CR) | C(iii) |
Lowland Bamboo (CR)
General site habitat | Percent coverage | Importance |
---|---|---|
Savanna - Dry Savanna | 60 | Major |
Savanna - Moist Savanna | 1 | Major |
Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Lowland Grassland | 5 | Minor |
Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Shrubland | 1 | Unknown |
Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers, Streams, Creeks [includes waterfalls] | 2 | Major |
Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent/Irregular Rivers, Streams, Creeks | 1 | Minor |
Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands [generally over 8 ha] | Unknown |
Savanna - Dry Savanna
Savanna - Moist Savanna
Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Lowland Grassland
Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Shrubland
Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers, Streams, Creeks [includes waterfalls]
Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent/Irregular Rivers, Streams, Creeks
Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands [generally over 8 ha]
Land use type | Percent coverage | Importance |
---|---|---|
Agriculture (arable) | 25 | Unknown |
Agriculture (aquatic) | Unknown | |
Forestry | 15 | Unknown |
Tourism / Recreation | Unknown | |
Agriculture (pastoral) | Minor | |
Nature conservation | 5 | Minor |
Agriculture (arable)
Agriculture (aquatic)
Forestry
Tourism / Recreation
Agriculture (pastoral)
Nature conservation
Threat | Severity | Timing |
---|---|---|
Residential & commercial development - Housing & urban areas | Unknown | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Agriculture & aquaculture - Wood & pulp plantations - Small-holder plantations | Unknown | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming | Unknown | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Energy production & mining - Mining & quarrying | Unknown | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Biological resource use - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - Persecution/control | Unknown | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Natural system modifications - Fire & fire suppression | Unknown | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Geological events - Earthquakes/tsunamis | Unknown | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Biological resource use - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Unknown | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Biological resource use - Gathering terrestrial plants - Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Unknown | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Residential & commercial development - Housing & urban areas
Agriculture & aquaculture - Wood & pulp plantations - Small-holder plantations
Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming
Energy production & mining - Mining & quarrying
Biological resource use - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - Persecution/control
Natural system modifications - Fire & fire suppression
Geological events - Earthquakes/tsunamis
Biological resource use - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)
Biological resource use - Gathering terrestrial plants - Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)
Protected area name | Protected area type | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
---|---|---|---|
Lalak Central Forest Reserve | Forest Reserve (conservation) | protected/conservation area encompasses IPA |
Lalak Central Forest Reserve
(2024) Tropical Important Plant Areas Explorer: Lalak Central Forest Reserve (Uganda). https://tipas.kew.org/site/lalak-central-forest-reserve/ (Accessed on 07/11/2024)