Mount Napak

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

Napak CFR qualifies as an IPA under criteria A. Sub-criterion A(i) is triggered by the presence of Aloe wilsonii, a globally Vulnerable species, as well as populations of the threatened Aloe tweedieae (VU), and Angraecopsis holochila (VU). Additionally, it triggers sub-criterion A(iv) due to the presence of the endemic and range restricted Euphorbia petraea (LC), which is only known to occur at this site. Lastly, Criterion C(iii) is triggered due to the presence of 14.36 km2 of the nationally threatened Afromontane dry forest (CR) habitat, making up 6.14% of the natural resource.

Mount Napak was gazetted as a Central Forest Reserve (CFR) in 1948 and regazetted in 1963. It covers an area of 153 km2 with a boundary length of 59 km, all artificial and adjoining community lands. It lies between 1,150 to 2,537 m asl (MWE 2002). The reserve lies adjacent to Iriri town in Napak District in Karamoja, approximately 60 km southwest of Moroto and 80 km northeast of Soroti (Davenport et al. 1996). In the Flora of Tropical East Africa classification, this IPA is situated in the U1 region of Uganda within the Sudanian Regional Centre of Endemism (White 1983).

The reserve harbours important populations of Vulnerable species Aloe wilsonii (MTWA 2018, Baldwin et al. 2022). Aloe wilsonii is distributed on either side of the northern Kenya-Uganda border; from Mount Elgon to Karamoja on the Uganda side and from Mt Chaichai in Kenya (Baldwin et al. 2022). This species occurs on rocky slopes of isolated hills, at 1,525–3,000 m in altitude (Carter et al. 2011). A second aloe species within this reserve has an even more limited distribution. Aloe cheranganiensis (LC) is only known from Karamoja and adjacent West Pokot County in Kenya (Cole & Forrest 2017). Mount Napak is therefore one of the only sites globally from which this species is known.

The site is one of the most important for Ugandan endemic species Euphorbia petraea (LC), a succulent shrub largely limited to Karamoja sub-region. Mount Napak is one of two sites nationally from which this species is known, the other being Toror Hills. Napak, however, is the only site in which this species is completely within a protected area. This site therefore represents one of the best opportunities currently to protect this unique species.

Afrocarpus gracilior, a nationally Endangered tree species is also known from this reserve (WCS 2016). While this species is globally assessed as Least Concern, in Uganda it is threatened by tree felling for charcoal production and expansion of agricultural activity around the lower slopes of Mount Napak.

In a study by Wasswa et al. (2011), Napak IPA was reported as one of the most appropriate locations for in situ conservation and germplasm collection for Acacia senegal because maximum diversity can be secured from the population at this site. Acacia senegal produces high-quality gum arabic and dominates international trade (Fagg & Allison, 2004). Gum arabic has a wide variety of uses, primarily food production, but is also an ingredient in local medicine.

Napak is also one of five best sites nationally for the critically endangered Afromontane dry forest. It contains 14.36 km2 of this nationally threatened habitat. This comprises 6.14% of all Afromontane dry forest habitat found within Uganda.

A total of 224 species of trees and shrubs (18% of known trees and shrubs in Uganda) have been recorded from Mt Napak IPA (Davenport et al. 1996). Out of these species, 24% (54 species) were Forest-dependent species (FF-species) while 33% (75 species) were Forest non-dependent species (Fn-species). The sporadic regional insecurity caused by armed cattle rustlers in Karamoja subregion, has hampered botanical surveys in this site (Davenport et al. 1996; Ojelel 2022). However, there is a probability of uncovering higher species richness in this IPA if more extensive botanical surveys are conducted with the inclusion of all growth habits.

Mt. Napak is an extinct volcano in Napak District, Uganda located on the northern edge of the Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve. It is a deeply dissected Carbonatite-Nephelinite Volcano of Early Miocene age (20.5 – 19 Ma) in northeastern Uganda, posed impressively on the rigorously flat Karamoja Plains beneath (IUGS 2022). Additionally, it is one of the few volcanoes in Africa that exposes its innards as well as parts of the edifice and the central plug.

The IPA has forested valleys and patches of forest on the plateau, but most of the spurs are sparsely wooded with species such as Diospyros mespiliformis, Astropanax abyssinucus, Blighia unijugata, while woodlands are dominated by Acacia-Commiphora. The rivers running southwards supplying the permanent water holes around the foot of Napak have narrow strips of gallery forest on either side.

The soils in this IPA are characterized by a very high proportion of clay and silt and the more well-drained soils on foothills (Aleper & Lotyang 2006). They may be classified into two groups namely the reddish-brown clays and the black cotton clays; the former occur at the base of the foothills, are fairly well drained while the latter occur further out on the plain, are poorly drained, intractable soils, which crack to a great depth as they dry (Aleper & Lotyang 2006).

The climate in Karamoja sub-region is characterized by high rainfall variability and evapotranspiration. The sub-region’s rainfall regime ranges between 350-1000 mm per annum. This precipitation is usually sporadic and falls in one rainy season. The sub-region generally suffers from poor rainfall distribution rather than from low rainfall totals. However, it is the intensity and the variability, particularly the existence of sporadic intense wet periods followed by drought events that has always had debilitating impacts on the sub-region (Egeru et al. 2014).

Mount Napak has been designated a Central Forest Reserve since 1963. This site also falls partially within Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, covering the southern slopes up to the main ridge of the mountain. Its boundary has not been maintained for a long time, but some old concrete cairns and directional trenches used for its demarcation still exist.

Several human activities are carried out in this IPA albeit illegally. For instance, settlement and crop cultivation (especially the Nabwal and Iriri sub-counties), collection of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as wild edible plants, charcoal production and firewood collection, harvesting of construction materials, livestock grazing and indiscriminate bush burning (Ojelel 2022). In early studies, Rudagya et al. (2010) reported that there were 1,400 people settled around the base of Mount Napak inside the reserve, which puts pressure on the integrity of the reserve. The encroachment is fuelled by some local communities in Karamoja claiming customary rights to use forest resources despite its designation as a protected area (MWE 2015). Environmental Alert (2011) also identified that the pertinent threats to this IPA are associated with lack of good forest governance, unclear or unjust land tenure issues, lack of awareness of policies such as the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003 and weak law enforcement. Presently, there is a growing change in the livelihoods in the Napak district (Karamoja sub-region) from pastoralist cattle rearing to subsistence cultivation.

Some NGOs such as Integrated Rural Development Initiative (IRDI), and World Food Programme (WFP) started implementing interventions geared towards encouraging the use of energy-efficient stoves in the Karamoja sub-region (Environmental Alert 2011). Additionally, there was the formation and strengthening of collaborative forest management (CFM) systems with adjacent communities. This was intended to enhance patrolling and eviction of agricultural encroachers and clear systematic demarcation of forest boundaries as strategies to reduce illegal activity within the CFR. Funding for this came from GEF/UNEP project "Institutional Capacity Strengthening for Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing in Uganda." Accordingly, Tongi CFM Forum is working to improve the activities being implemented inside and outside of the reserve. Edara Ngakito CFM Group required training to embrace conservation and forest management in general.

Mt. Napak is a source of many ecosystem goods and services to the community. The materials collected include wild edible plants (Ojelel et al. 2019), firewood and charcoal, construction materials (poles, thatch grass, fibre, and reeds) and bush meat. The community also carries out subsistence farming of crops such as maize, and sorghum at the foot of Mount Napak. The reserve acts as a catchment area for Okere and Okwanges rivers which are permanent water sources for cattle and communities in Kadike, Lothaar and Michokho (NFA 2008). It is also a catchment area for Lake Kyoga and serves as a windbreak between Teso and Karamoja (NFA 2008). Although underutilized, Mt. Napak CFR offers mountain climbing, camping sites, bird watching and forest walk services. The community also collects gum arabica which is used locally as food, gumming spears and pots, glueing arrows, glueing broken stools, calabashes and joining leather (Egadu et al., 2007) and for sale.

Assessed by:

Samuel Ojelel, Makerere University Herbarium

James Kalema, Makerere University Herbarium

Sophie Richards, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Iain Darbyshire, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Haley Gladitsch, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Date of first assessment: 30th Dec 2024

Reviewed by:

John Giribo, National Forestry Authority