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Echuya Forest Reserve in South Western Uganda

Welcome to Echuya Forest Reserve in South Western Uganda. This site is mostly forest (the 3,400 ha Echuya Forest Reserve) , but includes a permanent high-altitude swamp (Muchuya) at 2,300 m, about 7 km long by up to 750 m wide, in a narrow valley surrounded by steep forested hillsides. The swamp vegetation is dominated by sedges Carex and includes tussock vegetation and giant lobelias. The swamp drains north-west into the Murindi river.

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It is free, I promise to keep your voice (Comment) at this page. "Just click here to start your story, comment or criticism about this forest reserve or any other forest you’ve ever visited in Uganda. The reserve is dominated by Hagenia-Rapanea moist montane forest and montane bamboo Arundinaria. Echuya may not be as diverse overall as other Ugandan forests, but in terms of the conservation value of the species represented (based on their worldwide distributions and occurrence in Ugandan forests), Echuya is ranked among the top 10% of the 65 sites visited by the Forest Biodiversity Inventory Team.

Densely populated agricultural land surrounds the Forest Reserve, although agricultural encroachment appears not to be significant.

However, the reserve is used as the main source of bamboo for building and crafts by the local communities. Batwa have traditionally lived in the forest and continue to earn their living from various forms of resource extraction.

Birds

Echuya Forest Reserve IBA, including the Muchuya swamp, has a total of 100 species recorded. Of these, a high proportion are dependent on highland forest. In view of its size, the swamp is likely to support a larger population of Bradypterus graueri than the nearby Mubwindi swamp (in IBA UG004), one of only a few known localities for this species in Uganda.

Birds in the reserve that are restricted to the Afrotropical Highlands biome include such rare species as Francolinus nobilis, Batis diops, Ploceus alienus and Cryptospiza jacksoni.

Conservation issues

Currently, there are no specific conservation measures for Muchuya swamp; along with the surrounding forests it is protected within Echuya Forest Reserve, but it has not always been given priority in protective action.

A concession was given to a private developer for a dairy farm on the edges of the swamp in the reserve. A drainage system was created right along the valley and the swamp could have been completely drained to create more space for cattle-farming.

This would have endangered Bradypterus graueri and other restricted-range species in the swamp. However, the Forest Department cancelled the concession and the cattle have been moved out of the reserve.

It is recommended that Muchuya swamp be given a strong protection status because of its important and rare habitats that support internationally important species. Urgent action is needed to enhance the livelihoods of both the Batwa and the rest of the rural poor, while also securing alternatives to the resources currently gained from the forest.

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