Kibale National Park is a national park in Western Uganda, protecting moist rain

evergreen rainforest. It is 766 square kilometres (296 sq mi) in size and is located

between 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) in elevation. Despite
encompassing primarily moist evergreen forest, it contains a diverse array of
landscapes. Kibale is one of the last remaining expanses to contain both lowland and
montane forests. In eastern Africa, it sustains the last significant expanse of pre-
montane
The park was gazetted in 1932 and formally established in 1993 to protect a large
area of forest previously managed as a logged forest reserve. The park forms a
continuous forest with Queen Elizabeth National Park. This adjoining of the parks
creates a 180 kilometres (110 mi) wildlife corridor. It is an important eco-tourism
and safari destination, popular for its population of habituated chimpanzees and
twelve other species of primates. It is also the location of the Makerere University
Biological Field Station.[3] forest.[2]
Kibale National Forest has one of the highest diversity and concentration of primates
in Africa. It is home to a large number of endangered chimpanzees, as well as the
red colobus monkey (status: Endangered) and the rare L'Hoest’s monkey
(Vulnerable).[4]
There are 13 species of primates in Kibale National Park. The park protects several
well-studied habituated communities of common chimpanzee, as well as several
species of Central African monkey including the Uganda mangabey (Lophocebus
ugandae), the Ugandan red colobus (Procolobus tephrosceles) and the L'Hoest's
monkey. Other primates that are found in the park include the black-and-white
colobus (Colobus guereza) and the blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis).[5] The park's
population of elephants travels between the park and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Other terrestrial mammals that are found within Kibale National Park
include red and blue duikers, bushbucks, sitatungas, bush pigs, giant forest
hogs, common warthogs, and African buffalo. The carnivores that are present
include leopards, African golden cats, servals, different mongooses and two species
of otter. In addition, lions visit the park on occasion.[5]
Bird life is also prolific. The park boasts 325 species of birds, including the olive long-
tailed cuckoo, western tinkerbird,[5] two species of pittas (African and green-breasted)
and the grey parrot. The ground thrush (Turdus kibalensis) is endemic to Kibale
National Park.[5]

Primates are very common in Kibale National Forest. The forest has some of the
highest abundances of species of primates in the area. There are many species of
primates and these species persist in the less disturbed areas of the forest in their
natural habitats. There are disturbances that are hindering some of these species.

Different species have different diets and many of the species are folivorous. One
study actually found that black-and-white colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza) eat
younger leaves over older leaves (this is thought to happen because the leaves have
more protein and are easier to digest).[7]
There are approximately 229 species of trees found within the moist tropical forests
of the park. Some endangered timber species of trees include Cordia millenii,
Entandrophragma angolense, and Lovoa swynnertonnii. The forest understory is
dominated by shade-tolerant shrubs and herbs, which include Palisota
schweinfurthii and Pollia condensata, in addition to ferns and broad leaf grasses.[5]
Many studies have been conducted within the park to assess the factors influencing
forest regeneration and forest management techniques. One such study’s results
suggested that forest restoration could be achieved through preventing fires within
the park and allowing natural succession to occur so that the grasslands formed due
to human activity could naturally regenerate to forests.[8] The results showed that
plots within the park that had the longest history of fire exclusion had the highest
species diversity of trees. Furthermore, species of trees that required animal
dispersal of their seeds were far more abundant than non-animal dispersed species
in the plot with the longest duration of fire exclusion. This suggests that seed
dispersing animals were also more abundant in areas where fire was excluded.
Lastly, the presence of seed dispersers and animal dispersed species of trees in
some grassland plots suggest that suppressing fire and allowing natural seed
dispersal to occur can encourage forest regeneration.[8] Another study evaluated the
use of exotic pine and cypress tree plantations as a forest restoration technique
within the park. This study showed a high level of natural regeneration of indigenous
trees within pine plantations most likely due to the use of these plantations by seed
dispersing animals such as redtail monkeys, chimpanzees, duikers, and bushpigs, all
of which were sited or tracked within the plantations. [9]

Robusta coffee grows natively in the Kibale forest area. From 1999 to 2002 an effort
was made to commercialize this coffee as a premium consumer brand, emulating
and extending the success of shade grown in Central America. Revenue from the
coffee production was intended to finance conservation management activities.[10][11]
Initial funding for project development came from USAID.[11] The project was
implemented with funding from the Ford Foundation and $750,000 from the World
Bank Global Environment Facility. The project had initial success in setting up local
production standards and procedures and control infrastructure. Initially it was led by
the Uganda Coffee Trade Federation, until the independent US-based non-profit
Kibale Forest Foundation was created to take over the project. Sustainable annual
yield was estimated at 1,500 pounds (680 kg). Organic certification was delivered by
the Swedish KRAV labeling firm. It was subsequently discovered that there was no
demand for the product, as the robusta variety is perceived as inferior to arabica
coffee typically demanded by the premium market. Various blending schemes were
turned down by coffee distributors. Project leaders estimated that $800000 in
marketing expenditure would be required to create demand. [10]