Semliki National Park

Semliki National Park is located in Bwamba County, a remote part of the Bundibugyo District in western Uganda. It was made a national park in October 1993, and is one of Uganda’s newest national parks. 194 km2 (75 sq mi) of East Africa’s only lowland tropical rainforest is found in the park.

It is one of the richest areas of floral and faunal diversity in Africa, with bird species being especially diverse. The park is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Semliki National Park lies on Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Rwenzori Mountains are to the south-east of the park, while Lake Albert is to the park’s north.

The park lies within the Albertine Rift, the western arm of the East African Rift. The park is located on a flat to gently undulating landform that ranges from 670 to 760 m (2,200 to 2,490 ft) above sea level.

The park experiences an average rainfall of 1,250 mm (49 in), with peaks in rainfall from March to May and from September to December. Many areas of the park experience flooding during the wet season. The temperature at the park varies from 18 to 30 °C (64 to 86 °F), with relatively small daily variations.

The Park borders the Semliki and Lamia rivers, which are watering places for many animals. The park has two hot springs in a hot mineral encrusted swamp. One of the springs – Mumbuga spring – resembles a geyser by forming a 0.5 m high fountain. These hot springs attract a large number of shorebirds and they are a source of salt for many animals.

From 1932 to 1993, the area covered by Semliki National Park was managed as a forest reserve, initially by the colonial government and then by the Ugandan government’s Forest Department. It was made a national park by the government in October 1993 in order to protect the forests as an integral part of the protected areas of the Western Rift Valley.

The park is part of a network of protected areas in the Albertine Rift Valley. Other protected areas in this network include: The Rwenzori Mountains – In Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – In Uganda, Kibale National Park – In Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park – In Uganda, Virunga National Park – In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Volcanoes National Park – In the Republic of Rwanda.

Flora and fauna

The area that Semliki National Park covers is a distinct ecosystem within the larger Albertine Rift ecosystem. The park is located at the junction of several climatic and ecological zones, and as a result has a high diversity of plant and animal species and many microhabitats.

Most of the plant and animal species in the park are also found in the Congo Basin forests, with many of these species reaching the eastern limit of their range in Semliki National Park.

The vegetation of Semliki National Park is predominantly medium altitude moist evergreen to semi deciduous forest. The dominant plant species in the forest is the tree Cynometra alexandri. There are also tree species of a more evergreen nature and swamp forest communities.

The park has more than 400 bird species, for example the lyre-tailed honey guide. 216 of these species (66% of the country’s total bird species) are true forest birds, including the rare Forest Ground Thrush (Turdus oberlaenderi) and Sassi’s Olive Greenbul (Phyllastrephus lorenzi). Nine species of hornbills have been recorded in the park.

The park has over 60 mammal species, including forest buffalos, leopards, hippos, Mona Monkeys, water chevrotains, bush babies, civets, elephants, and the Pygmy Flying Squirrel (Idiuus zenkeri). Nine species of Duikers are found in the park, including the Bay Duiker (Cephalophus dorsalis). The park has eight primate species and almost 300 butterfly species.

Human population

The forests in the park are of great socio-economic importance to the human communities that live near the park. The local people practice subsistence agriculture and use the park’s forests to supplement their livelihoods.

Some of the products they obtain from the forests include fruits and vegetables, bush meat, herbal medicines, and construction materials.

The local population is increasing at a rate of 3.4% per year. The high population density and declining agricultural productivity combined with an unavailability of alternative sources of income means that the local population is dependent on the park’s resources.

The forest also plays an important cultural and spiritual role in local people’s lives. The forests are also the home of approximately 100 Batwa people, an indigenous community who still largely live as hunter-gatherers.

Past practices of the managing authorities that excluded the local people created resentment among them. This reduced the effectiveness of conservation practices and contributed to the occurrence of illegal activities. Since the 1990s, the Ugandan Wildlife Authority has involved the local communities in park planning.

Civil unrest took place in the Bundibugyo District between 1997 and 2001. On 1997-06-16, Allied Democratic Forces rebels attacked and took over the town of Bundibugyo and occupied the Semliki National Park headquarters. The people who lived near the park were moved to internally displaced people’s camps.