Lalak-Lokung

A(iii)Site contains one or more highly restricted endemic species that are potentially threatened, 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, being one of the best 5 sites nationally for the Critically Endangered lowland bamboo habitat, containing 8.52S km2 and therefore 8% of the national value. It also qualifies under sub-criterion A(iii) as it contains the species Sansevieria (Dracaena) lalakana, and endemic species only known to Lalak rock.

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 1,752 m, and is approximately 11 km running north to south and spans 4.8 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 1,879 m in elevation. It is also within the vicinity to the peaks of Mt Lachich to the south-southwest, Mt. Lamwa to the east-northeast, Mt Benga to southeast, and Mt. Aligha to the west-northwest.

This IPA also includes areas to the north of the original delimitation of the CFR, where nationally rare lowland bamboo (Oxytenanthera abyssinica) 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. The area of this northern boundary thus totals to 32.8 km2.

Additionally, the IPA encompasses the southern portion of Lokung FR. While the area Lokung is 14.27 km2, much of the CFR has been transformed, leaving less than 6.1 km2 to the south of the IPA boundary and just beyond it as intact lowland bamboo (See Conservation Issues). The proposed IPA boundary thus encompasses this intact habitat within the CFR, and additionally includes two rocky outcrops to the south including Lacic (or Lachich), 1,165 m asl.

The Lalak and Lokung area is considered to be the best site nationally for lowland bamboo thicket, hosting 8.52 km2 of this habitat, 8% of the total national resource. While lowland bamboo can be found in neighboring countries, nationally it is assessed as Critically Endangered under criterion A3 (Richards et al 2024.), and is highly restricted to central-north Uganda. More comprehensive mapping and fieldwork is required nationally to further assess the threat level of this habitat (Richards et al. 2024).

Lalak CFR in addition contains dry Combretum wooded grassland habitat, which has been assessed as nationally vulnerable (VU). While this habitat makes up 22.12 km2 of the proposed IPA, it only contains approximately 0.09% of this habitat nationally. While this does not concurrently trigger any threatened habitat sub-criteria, it is important to note that continued protection of this site will allow for continued protection of another nationally vulnerable habitat.

Additionally, Lalak CFR is the only known locality for the endemic Sansevieria (Dracaena) lalakana, which grows within soil filled cracks between the exposed granite rock. Within the site, there are 5-6 colonies of this species that were identified in 2018 on the eastern side of the hill, between 1050 and 1375 m (Cole & Forrest 2022). According to Cole & Forrest (2022), the populations are isolated and not immediately threatened by mining or farming. However, because it is the only known location of this species, with an extent of <100 km2, it triggers sub-criterion A(iii) as it is considered highly range restricted, and therefore, continued protection of this reserve is of high importance for this species. Also found within the rocky outcrops of Lalak CFR are other succulent species including Aloe labworwana (NT), along with species of Euphorbia and Kalanchoe.

Inselbergs in Uganda such as Lalak have previously been documented to have rich biological diversity (Cole & Forrest 2022). The Collaborative Forest Management Agreement for part of Lalak Central Forest Reserve (2017) states that Lalak’s unique topography hosts plants that may be of biodiversity conservation interest. However, Lalak CFR remains largely understudied due to historical unrest and inaccessibility. As a result, it is anticipated that this site will reveal greater botanical diversity as more research is conducted there in the future.

Lalak CFR is located at the northern most portion of the Victoria Microplate. It contains an inselberg shaped by weathering composed of gneiss and granite, in particular the Lamwo-Suite granite including the microperthitic potassium feldspar-rich granite known as Charnockite (Westerhof et al. 2014). This is a Neoproterozoic rock dating to 541– 1000 Ma. Streams and river valleys cut through the reserve, including the origin of the Ajam river, along with other seasonal rivers and swamps. Exposed, sheer granite rock can be found throughout the hill, some forming large, isolated escarpments. Shallow soils cover much of the exposed rock, except for near valley bottoms and abrupt slopes (National Forest Authority & Katum CFM Group 2017). Soils in this region are gray-brown sands on top of dark red-brown sandy-loams derived from the Pajule series (Langdale-Brown et al. 1964). Within the rocky outcrops, succulent plants like Kalanchoe and Euphorbia can be found (Cole & Forrest 2022).

The site broadly falls within the larger East Sudanian savanna ecoregion (Olson et al. 2001). Langdale-Brown et al. (1964) classified this site as a savanna mosaic primarily composed of dry savanna, with a small proportion of moist savanna. The dry savanna habitats in the CFR are comprised of Combretum-Acacia-Themeda and Combretum-Acacia-Hyparrhenia (Plumptre et al. 2021; Langdale-Brown et al. 1964). Langdale-Brown et al. (1964) describe the dry Combretum savannah as a potential natural vegetation type of the moist thicket and may therefore represent areas where lowland bamboo was previously dominant. The moist savanna is composed of Acacia-Albizia-Chloris-Panicum.

The lowland bamboo moist thickets are found mostly along the northern parts of Lalak, and the southernmost part of Lokung, comprising 1% and 0.05% of each CFR respectively. Lowland bamboo thicket is likely a natural climax community and is a sub-category of the moist thicket habitat (Langdale-Brown et al. 1964).

The region is generally hot and dry, alternating between dry and rainy seasons, with temperatures reaching as high as 27°C, and as low as 17°C. 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.

Lalak CFR was gazetted in 1961 and covers an area of 2,212 ha. It was designated to protect the origin of the Ajam River, whose water supports the population of Agoro Subcounty (Mupada et al. 2017). Agricultural activity and plantations are widespread around Lalak CFR and some are found within the reserve, notably within the mapped area of the lowland bamboo habitat. Increases in the population surrounding Lalak have increased the pressure on the reserve resources, causing losses to vegetation cover as well as encroachment within the reserve boundaries. The topographical and geological features of Lalak rock make it vulnerable to soil erosion. Because of this, it is susceptible to further habitat destruction.

Lokung CFR was gazetted in 1937 in the district of Kitgum, though the borders of the reserve have remained controversial. The total boundary length of 19 km completely adjoins local community lands (MoWE 2002) and covers an area of 1,427 ha (Statutory Instruments 1998 No.63). Some believe that the site is located in its gazette area surrounding Occula, while others believe the CFR is further south, around Storebor in Padibe West Sub County (Farvetto et al. 2021). It was initially established to protect the Lokung river and the lowland bamboo forest. However, much of Lokung CFR has been transformed into smallholder farms and forestry plantations (NFA 2008). With the exception of approximately 1 km2 of remnant lowland bamboo habitat, Lokung CFR is entirely encroached with settlements, as community members seek to grow timber for firewood and construction. Opposing goals of the community and park staff have caused continued conflict and often result in park staff relenting protection of the remaining habitat.

Historically, subsistence bamboo harvesters only cut mature poles of bamboo or harvest those that have already fallen. Around Lokung, they relied upon the material mainly for building chicken granaries and thatch for roofs. While lowland bamboo only requires 2-3 years to reach maturity, pressure on younger shoots has increased in the last decade as demand has risen and use of bamboo has diversified in the local area and in neighboring districts. Objects which were previously constructed using timber are now being built using bamboo, as trees in the area have been cut down to a great degree for use as charcoal. Businesses have also taken an interest in lowland bamboo, selling it in other districts and neighboring countries, driving competition in harvesting. Local people have as recently as 2023 voiced concern in exploitation and interest in curbing the loss of bamboo; as it is not only important as a durable material, but it is also ecologically important for stabilisation and moisture retention, which is relied upon by the region’s farmers (Ayugi 2023).

Fires are common almost annually across the mountain during the dry season, with fire activity noted in recent years in the northwest portion of Lalak where lowland bamboo habitat has been surveyed (FIRMS 2024; Cole & Forrest 2022). The cause of these fires can be partially attributed to illegal hunting and agricultural encroachment (National Forest Authority and Katum CFM Group 2017). Lowland bamboo is a mast-flowering bamboo species, flowering every 30-35 years, with a thicket flowering once in its lifetime and then dying back. Seeds of other mast-flowering bamboo species have been found to poorly withstand burning, whereas seedlings have been found to be more fire resistant (Cavallero & Blackhall 2020). Wildfires may be fueled by mass senescence of a stand of bamboo, potentially harming its own population’s regeneration, depending on the stage at which a fire occurs. Further study may be required to assess the regeneration of O. abyssinica following burning.

To enhance the sustainable use of resources within Lalak CFR, as of 30th August 2017, The Katum Collaborative Forest Management Group (KCFMG) of 107 members was allocated 8.95 km2 of Lalak CFR, in what appears to be the eastern part of the reserve. The agreement was in accordance with the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act of 2003 and is subject to renewal 10 years from signing, and is currently for amendment under The National Forestry and Tree Planting (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in which the functions of the NFA will revert to the Ministry of Water and Environment (Cheptoris 2024). The responsibilities of KCFMG include promotion of environmental conservation and monitoring of resource extraction within the reserve, oversight of fire management, as well as supporting projects relating to sustainable resource activities such as tree planting and bee keeping.

Due to presence of the river catchment and other sensitive habitats within the CFR, timber extraction of naturally occurring trees for any use is forbidden in accordance with the agreement as a sustainable CFM activity. Instead, planting and harvesting of teak, mahogany, Melia, Terminalia, and Eucalyptus was established as core goals of the CFM under a programme that was facilitated by IUCN called ‘Farm management natural Regeneration’. This programme has trained CFM members to manage these trees on their farm as they carry out bee keeping. All equipment required for processing honey and bee hives were provided. The timber is to be used directly by CFM members for medicine and construction, and to be sold for income for the group and its partners. Additionally, fruit tree growing and fish farming were outlined as other key objectives for both direct community use as well as for market products. Members of the CFM may harvest other foods and fibres growing naturally in the CFM area for their own use, though harvesting is subject to seasonal availability and level of necessity. The group benefits from revenue generated through forest related activities as well as maintaining legally recognised access to the resources within the CFR for their livelihoods.

The Ajam River, originating within Lalak CFR, provides water for the surrounding population of Agoro Subcounty of Lamwo district. This key ecosystem resource is vital for both drinking water, as well as for irrigating smallholder agriculture in the dry lowlands surrounding the CFR.

A 2016 report of Lamwo district describes the presence of cement deposits within Lalak rock (Onek 2016). Sand mining for both domestic and commercial use, subject to mapping and certification by the National Forest Authority (NFA), is conducted within Lalak CFR by CFM members within mapped sand areas of the CFR based on quantity needed. Additionally, stone quarrying is permitted for use by CFM members following extraction guidelines, with commercial harvest only permitted with a license provided by the NFA (National Forest Authority & Katum CFM Group 2017).

While a useful plant assessment has not been conducted for this site as a botanical inventory for the site is lacking, household use of medicinal herbs has been described as a resource within Lalak CFR. Use of mature bamboo poles within the site has been negotiated by CFM members for building, fencing, and firewood; however commercial harvesting currently requires licensing by the NFA (National Forest Authority & Katum CFM Group 2017).

According to the 2019-2029 Uganda National Bamboo Strategy and Action plan, Oxytenanthera abyssinica has been estimated to sequester 14.48 tons of carbon per hectare (Ministry of Water and Environment 2020). Therefore, the known extent of lowland bamboo habitat within the current boundary of the CFR may be sequestering approximately 1,300 tons of carbon, an emission equivalent to driving a car 9,292,351.7 km.

An apiary with approximately 50 hives within Lalak CFR was constructed to provide a sustainable source of honey for both consumption and sale by Katum CFM members. As well, an Ecotourism scheme was developed in accordance with the 2017 Katum CFM agreement within Lalak. However, limited evidence is available to determine if this has been subsequently employed.

Assessed by:

Haley Gladitsch, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Iain Darbyshire, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

James Kalema, Makerere University Herbarium

Samuel Ojelel, Makerere University Herbarium

Sophie Richards, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Date of first assessment: 10th Oct 2024

Reviewed by:

John Giribo, National Forestry Authority