Country: Uganda
Administrative region: Western (Region)
Central co-ordinates: 1.36834 S, 29.63931 E
Area: 38.5km²
A(i)Site contains one or more globally threatened species, A(iv)Site contains one or more range restricted endemic species that are potentially threatened, B(ii)Site contains an exceptional number of species of high conservation importance, C(iii)Site contains nationally threatened or restricted habitat or vegetation types, AND/OR habitats that have severely declined in extent nationally
MGNP qualifies as an IPA under sub-criteria A(i,iv), B(ii) and C(iii). There are 15 plant taxa globally threatened with extinction within this IPA, 12 Vulnerable and three Endangered, each triggering criterion A(i). Two taxa, which are currently unassessed for the IUCN Red List and both have ranges below 5,000 km2, trigger sub-criterion A(iv). A total of nine taxa have restricted ranges under the B(ii) threshold of 10,000 km2, many of which are endemic to the Virunga Mountains, representing over 3% of the national list of endemic and range restricted species. Finally, this site triggers criterion C(iii) as one of the five best sites in Uganda for Afromontane rainforest, a nationally Endangered habitat.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP) covers an area of 33.7 km2 in Kisoro District in the most southwestern corner of Uganda. The national park encompasses parts of three of the Virunga volcanoes, each of which are either extinct or dormant. Mount Muhavura, the easternmost volcano in the Virungas, is the heighest (4,127 m) followed by Mount Sabinyo (3,645 m) and Mount Gahinga (3,474 m) which lies between the latter two volcanoes (Butynski & Kalina 1993). As these mountains form political boundaries between Uganda, D.R. Congo and Rwanda, MGNP is contiguous with Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in D.R. Congo, representing a joint conservation area that encompasses the entirety of the Virunga Mountain Range (UNEP-WCMC & IUCN 2023).
MGNP is one of the richest sites in Uganda for plant diversity and, although not as extensive as on other mountains such as Elgon and the Ruwenzori, is one of the best examples of nationally Endangered habitat Afromontane rainforest in Uganda (Richards et al., In Review).
Several threatened and range restricted species are known from this site, including four globally Endangered species – each only known nationally from this IPA. One of these species, Kniphofia bequaertii, a perennial herb, is known only from two sites nationally, Echuya CFR and MGNP. The only other known localities are within neighbouring Virunga National Park in D.R. Congo and the Mahali Mountains in Tanzania (Beentje et al. 2019). Last collected at this site in 1939 in high altitude grasslands of Mount Muhavura, K. bequaertii is also known from Mount Mgahinga in grassy areas of a bamboo grove (Snowden #1593). Citizen science records suggest that this species is still extant at the site (Clark 2008) although further surveys of this species would be beneficial to better understand the population at this site. Crotalaria mesopontica subsp. glabrescens (EN) is only known from the Virunga Mountains and the highlands around Ijenda, Burundi, and as a result qualifies as range restricted under IPA criterion B(ii). Carpha angustissima (EN) is similarly a range restricted, near-endemic, located only within the Virungas, Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda and Mount Kahuzi in D.R. Congo. This species has been collected from altitudes around 3000 m.
The final Endangered species, Emilia pammicrocephala, is a herb known from all three mountains of MGNP with collections also made in the Mgahinga-Muhavura saddle. MGNP encompasses the entire national population of E. pammicrocephala. Elsewhere, this species has most frequently been collected on the Marungu Plateau in D.R. Congo, however, much of the habitat in this area has now been cleared and so conservation at MGNP is of great importance. At least eight collections made from this IPA and, given the threats elsewhere, this site likely hosts one of the most significant populations of this species globally.
Alongside E. pammicrocephala, several other Asteraceae of conservation importance are known from this site. Bothriocline ruwenzoriensis, Helichrysum mildbraedii and Vernonia calvoana subsp. adolfi-friderici are three globally Vulnerable Asteraceae known from this site. Bothriocline ruwenzoriensis is the most widespread of the three, with a range extending to south D.R. Congo, while the other two taxa are Albertine Rift Endemics. H. mildbraedii was collected from short grass in an area of moorland on Mount Mgahinga (Burt #2801) but is known elsewhere in the Virunga mountains in the Hypericum zone, so may well be more widespread in MGNP. All three species face significant threats at other sites, while MGNP represents a secure site to conserve these species (Ntore et al. 2019, Amani et al. 2022a, b). B. ruwenzoriensis and H. mildbraedii were both noted in surveys by Owiunji et al. (2005) of the Virunga Volcanoes made in the early 2000s, from the Sabinyo-Gahinga-Muhavura sectors, suggesting populations of each are still present at the site. Similarly, Vernonia calvoana was collected in all sectors of the Virunga Volcanoes during this survey work. As Vernonia calvoana subsp. adolfi-friderici is the only subspecies known from the Virungas (Beentje 2000), it is highly probable that this Vulnerable taxon was collected more recently within this IPA.
In addition to these three threatened taxa, there are three near-endemic Asteraceae known from MGNP that qualify under IPA criterion B(ii). Both Conyza montigena var. fosseyae (LC) and Senecio polyadenus (LC) are endemic to the Virunga mountains. C. montigena var. fosseyae is known from Mount Mgahinga (Harrington #88), while S. polyadenus is known from at least three specimens located on Mount Muhavura with an additional specimen from the Mahavura – Mgahinga saddle (Stauffer #615). A second variety of Conyza montigena known from this IPA, var. montigena (LC), is only known from the Virunga and Ruwenzori Mountains globally.
In total, there are nine range restricted taxa under IPA criterion B(ii) known from this site. Two varieties of Rubus runssorensis, var. umbrosus and var. runssorensis, are known only from the Virunga and Ruwenzori Mountains globally and, with both varieties’ not yet assessed for the IUCN Red List and with ranges under 5,000 km2, each triggers IPA criterion A(iv). The remaining two range restricted taxa, the epiphytic orchid Polystachya proterantha (LC) and shrubby Lamiaceae species Coleus goetzenii (LC), are only known nationally from MGNP. Elsewhere, both of these species are known from Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda, while C. goetzenii is also known from the Rwanda and D.R. Congo sectors of the Virunga Mountains.
Two other Lamiaceae species known from this site are also of conservation significance, both of which have been found to be Vulnerable to extinction. Leucas alluaudii is an Albertine Rift Endemic, which is threatened by habitat loss elsewhere in its range, and Ajuga leucantha, which has a highly disjunct distribution, from in and around the Virunga Mountains and the Ethiopian highlands. Much of this latter species’ former habitat, at low elevations outside each of the three protected areas on each side of the national boundaries within these mountains, has been lost to agriculture (Amani et al. 2022c). Therefore, the remaining population in MGNP is of great significance in conserving the southern extent of this highly disjunct species.
Overall, there are 13 threatened species known from this site, many of which are endemic or near-endemic to the Albertine Rift. There is extensive intact habitat at this site and so it serves as an important opportunity to conserve these plant species. A checklist of plants for MGNP is not available, although at least 1,265 plant species have been recorded from the Virunga Mountains as a whole, while the Sabinyo-Gahinga-Muhavura chain was found to be the richest in endemic species in the massif (Owiunji et al. 2005). However, further research, particularly at high altitudes, is needed and would likely yield further rare and threatened species records.
MGNP is underlain by black humous soils of volcanic origin and is part of the geological Sabinyo Complex (Harrop et al. 1960). The habitats of this site, across the altitudinal gradient, include areas of woodland at the lowest altitudes, montane forests, sub-alpine Hagenia-Hypericum and ericaceous heath zones, and a Senecio-Lobelia alpine zone.
The woodland is derived from disturbance (Owiunji et al. 2005). Around 29% of the northerly section of MGNP was previously cropland but, in 1992, was taken out of cultivation and restored with indigenous trees (Butynski & Kalina 1993). There is some evidence of a higher frequency of exotic tree stands, particularly Eucalyptus sp. and Acacia mearnsii which were previously planted by the NFA, in these abandoned croplands. However, such species are infrequent throughout MGNP (Lejju et al. 2001, Owiunji et al. 2005).
Some of the montane forest is characterised as mixed, broadleaf montane forest, consisting of species such as Lepidotrichilia volkensii and Bersama abyssinica (Lejju et al. 2001). Only a small area of this forest, located at the base of Mt Muhabura, was untouched by previous encroachment (Owiunji et al. 2005). Above this is the second form of montane forest, bamboo forest, dominated by Oldeania alpina (formerly Sinarundinaria alpina). This latter forest type is the most extensive within MGNP (Robbins et al. 2011). On Mount Sabiyinyo this habitat is below the Hagenia-Hypericum zone but it is above this zone on Mount Gahinga (Owiunji et al. 2005). At the highest altitudes, above around 3,200 m, are area of alpine vegetation including Philippia johnstonii, Erica arborea, giant Lobelia and Dendrosenecio erici-rosenii (both subsp. erici-rosenii and alticola). Mount Gahinga is the youngest volcano of the three in MGNP, with a conical peak and swampy crater of approximately 180m in diameter, while there are swamps present elsewhere on the volcanoes including the Rugezi Swamp in the Gahinga-Sabinyo saddle (Uganda Wildlife Authority 2007).
MGNP was established in 1991 from the Gorilla Game Reserve and Mgahinga Central Forest Reserve. The establishment of this National Park led to the 1992 memorandum in which those who were farming a large northerly section of the park were relocated elsewhere (Butynski & Kalina 1993). Planting of indigenous species was then undertaken and, although there is some low-level presence of exotic tree species, canopy cover has steadily increased over the last three decades (Google Earth 2023).
A primary reason for the establishment of this National Park is the presence of Endangered Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei subsp. beringei) which is known only from the Virunga mountains and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest globally (Hickey et al. 2020). This has benefited the forests in which they reside through conservation and restoration. Further, the management plan 2014-2024 recognizes that one of the ten “key conservation values” of the park is “habitat for endemic and endangered plants and animals”, identifying bamboo forest and swamps as habitats of particular importance. The bamboo forests are associated with several range-restricted or threatened species, although several of these occur in grassy glades within the bamboo or in areas bordering the Hypericum-Hagenia zone, while swamp forest is associated with Swertia adolfi-friderici (VU). However, there are no named endemic and threatened plants, or strategies for protection of these species, included within the management plan and the document itself states that one challenge faced in ecological monitoring of the site is the “overemphasis on gorilla conservation at the expense of other species”. The designation of this site as an IPA, and accompanying evidence, could therefore prove useful and informative for future management of MGNP.
Within the regenerated woodland in the north of MGNP, located within a 1 km distance of the park boundary, land has been designated as a Collaborative Management Zone (Uganda Wildlife Authority 2014). Through negotiated collaborative management agreements, communities are able to sustainably harvest resources within resource use areas. There are still some ongoing threats to the conservation zones, such as grazing of livestock and setting of fires, often associated with refreshing pasture (Uganda Wildlife Authority 2014). Illegal extraction of bamboo, timber and firewood due to a lack of resources outside MGNP has also been recorded (Uganda Wildlife Authority 2014, CUPTD Workshop 2023).
MGNP plays a significant role in watershed management, there are a number of streams that flow northwards, while the River Kabiranyuma, which drains the swamp of the same name, is the only river that remains during the driest months between June and August (Uganda Wildlife Authority 2014). While important for communities in Uganda, watercourses also impact neighbouring countries, for example, the River Ntebeko, originating in Rugezi swamp in the Gahinga-Sabinyo saddle, and the Nyabirerema stream, from Mount Sabinyo, both flow into the D.R. Congo (Uganda Wildlife Authority 2007). The vegetation is important for water catchment and regulation, while also playing an important role in soil stabilisation (Butynski & Kalina 1993).
MGNP is one of the richest IPAs for useful species (see Botanical Richness). Local communities access resources within the Collaborative Management Zone such as bamboo, medicinal plants, and weaving materials. The park also provides areas for beekeeping (Uganda Wildlife Authority 2014).
The site provides important habitat for species, for instance 79 bird species have been recorded from this site, which is likely to be an underestimate as around 185 have species have been recorded in Rwanda's Parc National des Volcans (Uganda Wildlife Authority 2007). In turn, the provision of habitats provides tourism opportunities, particularly populations of Mountain Gorilla and Golden monkey (Cercopithecus mitis subsp. kandtii, EN). MGNP also has cultural significance as a former home of indigenous Batwa communities, with significant sites including the Garama Cave. Batwa groups lead tours within MGNP and share their cultural heritage with visitors (Achieve Global Safaris 2023).
Sophie Richards, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Iain Darbyshire, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Samuel Ojelel, Makerere University Herbarium
James Kalema, Makerere University Herbarium
Species | Qualifying sub-criterion | ≥ 1% of global population | ≥ 5% of national population | 1 of 5 best sites nationally | Entire global population | Socio-economically important | Abundance at site |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Afroligusticum runssoricum (Engl.) P.J.D.Winter | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Kniphofia bequaertii De Wild. | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Bothriocline ruwenzoriensis (S.Moore) C.Jeffrey | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Emilia pammicrocephala (S.Moore) C.Jeffrey | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Helichrysum mildbraedii Moeser | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Vernonia calvoana Hook.f. subsp. adolfi-friderici (Muschl.) C.Jeffrey | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Impatiens mildbraedii Gilg | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Swertia adolfi-friderici Mildbr. & Gilg | A(i) | Scarce | |||||
Ajuga leucantha Lukhoba | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Leucas alluaudii Sacteux | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Crotalaria mesopontica Taub. subsp. glabrescens (R.Wilczek) Milne-Redh. | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Polystachya poikilantha Kraenzl. var. leucorhoda (Kraenzl.) P.J.Cribb & Podz. | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Pavetta urundensis Bremek. | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Pavetta bagshawei S.Moore var. leucosphaera (Bremek.) Bridson | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Odontosoria africana F.Ballard | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Carpha angustissima Cherm. | A(i) | Unknown | |||||
Rubus runssorensis Engl. var. runssorensis | A(iv) | Unknown | |||||
Rubus runssorensis Engl. var. umbrosus (Gust.) Hauman | A(iv) | Unknown | |||||
Carpha angustissima Cherm. | A(i) | Unknown |
Afroligusticum runssoricum (Engl.) P.J.D.Winter
Kniphofia bequaertii De Wild.
Bothriocline ruwenzoriensis (S.Moore) C.Jeffrey
Emilia pammicrocephala (S.Moore) C.Jeffrey
Helichrysum mildbraedii Moeser
Vernonia calvoana Hook.f. subsp. adolfi-friderici (Muschl.) C.Jeffrey
Impatiens mildbraedii Gilg
Swertia adolfi-friderici Mildbr. & Gilg
Ajuga leucantha Lukhoba
Leucas alluaudii Sacteux
Crotalaria mesopontica Taub. subsp. glabrescens (R.Wilczek) Milne-Redh.
Polystachya poikilantha Kraenzl. var. leucorhoda (Kraenzl.) P.J.Cribb & Podz.
Pavetta urundensis Bremek.
Pavetta bagshawei S.Moore var. leucosphaera (Bremek.) Bridson
Odontosoria africana F.Ballard
Carpha angustissima Cherm.
Rubus runssorensis Engl. var. runssorensis
Rubus runssorensis Engl. var. umbrosus (Gust.) Hauman
Carpha angustissima Cherm.
General site habitat | Percent coverage | Importance |
---|---|---|
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest | Major | |
Savanna - Moist Savanna | Minor | |
Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Shrubland | Major | |
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Swamp Forest | Minor | |
Rocky Areas - Rocky Areas [e.g. inland cliffs, mountain peaks] | Major | |
Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Grassland | Major |
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest
Savanna - Moist Savanna
Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Shrubland
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Swamp Forest
Rocky Areas - Rocky Areas [e.g. inland cliffs, mountain peaks]
Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Grassland
Land use type | Percent coverage | Importance |
---|---|---|
Nature conservation | Major | |
Tourism / Recreation | Major | |
Harvesting of wild resources | Minor |
Nature conservation
Tourism / Recreation
Harvesting of wild resources
Threat | Severity | Timing |
---|---|---|
Agriculture & aquaculture - Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Low | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Natural system modifications - Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Low | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Biological resource use - Gathering terrestrial plants | Low | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming | Medium | Past, not likely to return |
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Low | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Agriculture & aquaculture - Wood & pulp plantations | Low | Past, not likely to return |
Climate change & severe weather - Habitat shifting & alteration | Unknown | Future - inferred threat |
Agriculture & aquaculture - Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming
Natural system modifications - Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity
Biological resource use - Gathering terrestrial plants
Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases
Agriculture & aquaculture - Wood & pulp plantations
Climate change & severe weather - Habitat shifting & alteration
Protected area name | Protected area type | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
---|---|---|---|
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park | National Park | protected/conservation area matches IPA |
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Designation name | Protected area | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
---|---|---|---|
Virunga Volcanoes | Key Biodiversity Area | protected/conservation area matches IPA | |
Virunga Volcanoes | Important Bird Area | protected/conservation area matches IPA |
Virunga Volcanoes
Virunga Volcanoes
Management type | Description | Year started | Year finished |
---|---|---|---|
Site management plan in place | Mgahinga Gorilla National Park General Management Plan 2014-2024 | 2014 | 2024 |
Site management plan in place
Google Earth Pro 2023
The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) 2023
Conservation of Uganda’s Plant and Tree Diversity Workshop, Makerere University, Kampala, 7-10 February 2023 [unpubl. communications]
Mgahinga National Park
Vernonia calvoana subsp. adolfi-friderici. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T154349669A154388291.
Ajuga leucantha. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T154235891A154387866.
Compositae. Flora of Tropical East Africa. Part 1 (Vol. 1)
Kniphofia bequaertii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T103647354A103648602
Three new mountain national parks for Uganda
Oryx, Vol 27, page(s) 214 – 224 Available online
The Soils of the Western Province of Uganda
Gorilla beringei ssp. beringei (amended version of 2018 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T39999A176396749
Regeneration of indigenous trees in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
Regeneration of indigenous trees in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda, Vol 39, page(s) 65-73 Available online
Helichrysum mildbraedii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T103647197A103648477
The Biodiversity of the Virunga Volcanoes
Extreme Conservation Leads to Recovery of the Virunga Mountain Gorillas
PLOS ONE, Vol 6, page(s) e19788 Available online
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP) - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park General Management Plan 2014-2024.
Improving the application of Important Plant Areas to conserve threatened habitats: a case study of Uganda
Conservation Science and Practice
Sophie Richards, Iain Darbyshire, Samuel Ojelel, James Kalema (2024) Tropical Important Plant Areas Explorer: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Uganda). https://tipas.kew.org/site/mgahinga-gorilla-national-park/ (Accessed on 07/11/2024)