Wildlife Corridors and Regional Biodiversity Conservation around Selected Wildlife Protected Areas in Uganda

Abstract

Wildlife corridors play a vital role in regional biodiversity conservation. Ecological attributes, changes in corridors and wildlife populations, threats to wildlife corridor functionality were evaluated using a case study of the eight wildlife protected areas in Uganda. A survey was conducted from September 2017 to May 2019, using document review, interviews, the Nature Conservancy’s Conservation Action Planning methodology, and Geographical Information System/remote sensing. The findings revealed a total of 20 key wildlife corridors in the landscape with key ecological attributes that augment regional biodiversity conservation. These corridors experience reducing vegetation cover, degradation, loss of connectivity, and degraded stepping stone habitats. They (corridors) are threatened by illegal activities, poaching and illegal wildlife tracking, unsustainable natural resource use, human population pressure, habitat transition/changes, wild fires, trans-boundary threats, infrastructure development, and climate change which affect habitat quality, diversity, and continuity. Despite the existing changes and threats, the elephant population, a migratory animal population increased. The wildlife corridors are important in conservation of regional biological diversity through maintaining the nativeness, pristineness, diversity, and resilience or adaptability of the ecosystems. The policy makers, wildlife managers, local authorities and other conservation bodies and practitioners should develop plans, policies or strategies to sustainably manage and conserve migratory animal biodiversity. Further research should be conducted to establish the functional connectivity of wildlife corridors including trends in their width across the landscape and come up with corridor restoration options. Keywords: Biodiversity, Connectivity, Landscape, Protected areas, Threats, Wildlife DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/87-05 Publication date: September 30 th 2022