Lake Nakuwa (7065)
Uganda, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Lake Nakuwa
Central coordinates: Latitude: 1.2500, Longitude: 33.4167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1030 to 1030
Area of KBA (km2): 165.1172
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site, the Nakuwa area, is in the south-eastern part of the Kyoga system, which is an important natural water reservoir for the Nile. It includes Lakes Nawampasa, Budipa, Nkodokodo and Murlu, as well as swamps in the east, and the northern swamps of Lakes Nakuwa and Kyebiseke. The swamps are predominantly dense papyrus Cyperus papyrus, broken in parts by pools of water forming sudds (clumps of floating papyrus). Sometimes these sudds open up completely, forming small lakes. Some lakes, like Nawampasa, are very shallow and covered by water-lilies Nymphaea, with short sedges (dominated by Cyperus) occupying the drier parts of the fringing papyrus swamp. These shallow areas are important for both waterbirds and surrounding fishing communities
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: See Box and Table 3 for key species. There has been little fieldwork done in and around Lake Kyoga, although during two visits by NatureUganda staff, some apparently important places for the conservation of birds were noted. There is no list of birds in the Kyoga system, but records have been made in different parts of the swamp. These include Lake Nawampasa, part of Lake Nakuwa and Kyebiseke around Irundu. The swamps are mainly important for three species of global conservation concern, and for species of the Lake Victoria Basin biome Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals include otters and Tragelaphus spekii (LR/nt). Some of the small lakes in the Kyoga area support rare species of fish, including some that were exterminated in Lakes Victoria and Kyoga by the introduced and predatory Lates niloticus.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Forest | 13 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 80 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is remote and poorly known, and therefore needs further investigation. The use of firearms to hunt Balaeniceps rex needs to be discouraged through a public-awareness campaign which, in addition to stressing the global significance of the species, should address some of the negative cultural beliefs, such as the bird being a bad omen for fishermen
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Burgis and Symoens (1987).