Gishwati-Mukura National Park: Difference between revisions
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* Key threats to chimpanzees are deforestation, illegal cattle grazing, hunting & mining. | * Key threats to chimpanzees are deforestation, illegal cattle grazing, hunting & mining. | ||
* Conservation activities have focused on conducting anti-poaching patrols, establishing “eco-clubs” for conservation education, and running a long-term research project. | * Conservation activities have focused on conducting anti-poaching patrols, establishing “eco-clubs” for conservation education, and running a long-term research project. | ||
= Site characteristics = | = Site characteristics = | ||
Located in northwest Rwanda, Gishwati-Mukura National Park is located roughly between Volcanoes National Park to the north and [[Nyungwe National Park]] to the south. The park is made up of two parts: the larger Gishwati forest, and small Mukura forest. The forests are situated on the ridge that divides the Congo and Nile water catchment areas, along the Albertine Rift in the west of the country ([https://www.visitrwanda.com/destinations/gishwati-mukura-national-park/ Visit Rwanda]). In addition to eastern chimpanzees, other primates inhabiting the site include golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s and blue monkeys. A recent survey of birds detected 155 species, including 20 which are endemic to the Albertine Rift (Inman & Ntoyinkama 2020).The Gishwati Forest was declared a Forest Reserve in 1951; in 2015 Gishwati Forest was gazetted as part of the Gishwati-Mukura National Park (Inman & Ntoyinkama 2020). The site is part of the [https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/africa/gishwati-mukura-landscape Gishwati-Mukura Landscape Biosphere Reserve], a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, since 2020. | Located in northwest Rwanda, Gishwati-Mukura National Park is located roughly between Volcanoes National Park to the north and [[Nyungwe National Park]] to the south. The park is made up of two parts: the larger Gishwati forest, and small Mukura forest. The forests are situated on the ridge that divides the Congo and Nile water catchment areas, along the Albertine Rift in the west of the country ([https://www.visitrwanda.com/destinations/gishwati-mukura-national-park/ Visit Rwanda]). In addition to eastern chimpanzees, other primates inhabiting the site include golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s and blue monkeys. A recent survey of birds detected 155 species, including 20 which are endemic to the Albertine Rift ([[#R00613|Inman & Ntoyinkama 2020]]).The Gishwati Forest was declared a Forest Reserve in 1951; in 2015 Gishwati Forest was gazetted as part of the Gishwati-Mukura National Park ([[#R00613|Inman & Ntoyinkama 2020]]). The site is part of the [https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/africa/gishwati-mukura-landscape Gishwati-Mukura Landscape Biosphere Reserve], a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, since 2020. | ||
'''Table 1. Basic site information for Gishwati-Mukura National Park''' | '''Table 1. Basic site information for Gishwati-Mukura National Park''' | ||
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= Ape status = | = Ape status = | ||
The chimpanzee population in the Gishwati forest has increased in size, from 13 individuals in 2007, to 19 individuals in 2010, and more recently, in 2019, chimpanzee trackers were able to identify 28 individuals (Chancellor et al. 2020). | The chimpanzee population in the Gishwati forest has increased in size, from 13 individuals in 2007, to 19 individuals in 2010, and more recently, in 2019, chimpanzee trackers were able to identify 28 individuals ([[#R00612|Chancellor et al. 2020]]). | ||
'''Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Gishwati-Mukura National Park''' | '''Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Gishwati-Mukura National Park''' | ||
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|Full count | |Full count | ||
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|Chancellor et al. 2020 | |[[#R00612|Chancellor et al. 2020]] | ||
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| Line 87: | Line 83: | ||
|Genetic (dung/hair) | |Genetic (dung/hair) | ||
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|Chancellor et al. 2012 | |[[#R00611|Chancellor et al. 2012]] | ||
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|RWA0002 | |||
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= Threats = | = Threats = | ||
Deforestation has been a major problem in the area; by 2001, only 1,500 acres of the forest’s original 250,000 remained ([https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/38644/gishwati-forest-rwanda NASA Earth Observatory]). Other important threats include illegal cattle grazing, hunting, illegal mining and logging, and agricultural expansion (Chancellor et al. 2020). | Deforestation has been a major problem in the area; by 2001, only 1,500 acres of the forest’s original 250,000 remained ([https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/38644/gishwati-forest-rwanda NASA Earth Observatory]). Other important threats include illegal cattle grazing, hunting, illegal mining and logging, and agricultural expansion ([[#R00612|Chancellor et al. 2020]]). | ||
'''Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Gishwati-Mukura National Park''' | '''Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Gishwati-Mukura National Park''' | ||
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|5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | |5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | ||
|High (more than 70% of population affected) | |High (more than 70% of population affected) | ||
|Deforestation is a key threat at the site; by 2001, only 1,500 acres of the forest’s original 250,000 remained ([ | |Deforestation is a key threat at the site; by 2001, only 1,500 acres of the forest’s original 250,000 remained ([[#R02000|NASA Earth Observatory]]; Chancellor 2020). | ||
|2001-Ongoing (2020) | |2001-Ongoing (2020) | ||
|} | |} | ||
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|2 Counter-wildlife crime | |2 Counter-wildlife crime | ||
|2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols | |2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols | ||
|Eco Guards monitor illegal and unsustainable human activities including cattle grazing, logging, charcoal production, and mining in Gishwati forest (Chancellor et al. 2020). | |Eco Guards monitor illegal and unsustainable human activities including cattle grazing, logging, charcoal production, and mining in Gishwati forest ([[#R00612|Chancellor et al. 2020]]). | ||
| | | | ||
|Ongoing (2020) | |Ongoing (2020) | ||
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|4 Education & awareness | |4 Education & awareness | ||
|4.1 Educate local communities about apes and sustainable use | |4.1 Educate local communities about apes and sustainable use | ||
|Establishment of eco-clubs in nearby primary and secondary schools, where children learn about conservation and the local flora and fauna (Chancellor et al. 2020). | |Establishment of eco-clubs in nearby primary and secondary schools, where children learn about conservation and the local flora and fauna ([[#R00612|Chancellor et al. 2020]]). | ||
| | | | ||
|Ongoing (2020) | |Ongoing (2020) | ||
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|5 Protection & restoration | |5 Protection & restoration | ||
|5.2 Legally protect ape habitat | |5.2 Legally protect ape habitat | ||
|The site was declared a National Park in 2015 (Inman & Ntoyinkama 2020). | |The site was declared a National Park in 2015 ([[#R00613|Inman & Ntoyinkama 2020]]). | ||
| | | | ||
|2015-Ongoing (2026) | |2015-Ongoing (2026) | ||
| Line 147: | Line 143: | ||
|8 Permanent presence | |8 Permanent presence | ||
|8.1 Run research project and ensure permanent human presence at site | |8.1 Run research project and ensure permanent human presence at site | ||
|Since 2008, long-term chimpanzee research began in Gishwati (Chancellor et al. 2020). | |Since 2008, long-term chimpanzee research began in Gishwati ([[#R00612|Chancellor et al. 2020]]). | ||
| | | | ||
|2008-Ongoing (2020) | |2008-Ongoing (2020) | ||
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= Exposure to climate change impacts = | = Exposure to climate change impacts = | ||
As part of a study on the exposure of African great ape sites to climate change impacts, Kiribou et al. | As part of a study on the exposure of African great ape sites to climate change impacts, [[#R02200|Kiribou et al. (2024)]] extracted climate data and data on projected extreme climate impact events for the site. Climatological characteristics were derived from observation-based climate data provided by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP, www.isimip.org). Parameters were calculated as the average across each 30-year period. For 1981-2010, the EWEMBI dataset from ISIMIP2a was used. For the two future periods (2021-2050 and 2071-2099) ISIMIP2b climate data based on four CMIP5 global climate models were used. For future projections, two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) were used. RCP 2.6 is a scenario with strong mitigation measures in which global temperatures would likely rise below 2C. RCP 6.0 is a scenario with medium emissions in which global temperatures would likely rise up to 3C by 2100. For the number of days with heavy precipitation events, the 98th percentile of all precipitation days (>1mm/d) was calculated for the 1979-2013 reference period as a threshold for a heavy precipitation event. Then, for each year, the number of days above that threshold was derived. The figures on temperature and precipitation anomaly show the deviation from the mean temperature and mean precipitation for the 1979-2013 reference period. | ||
The estimated exposure to future extreme climate impact events (crop failure, drought, river flood, wildfire, tropical cyclone, and heatwave) is based on a published dataset by Lange et al. 2020 derived from ISIMIP2b data. The same global climate models and RCPs as described above were used. Within each 30-year period, the number of years with an extreme event and the average proportion of the site affected were calculated ( | The estimated exposure to future extreme climate impact events (crop failure, drought, river flood, wildfire, tropical cyclone, and heatwave) is based on a published dataset by Lange et al. 2020 derived from ISIMIP2b data. The same global climate models and RCPs as described above were used. Within each 30-year period, the number of years with an extreme event and the average proportion of the site affected were calculated ([[#R02200|Kiribou et al. 2024]]). | ||
'''Table 8. Estimated past and projected climatological characteristics in Gishwati-Mukura National Park''' | '''Table 8. Estimated past and projected climatological characteristics in Gishwati-Mukura National Park''' | ||
| Line 380: | Line 376: | ||
= References = | = References = | ||
Chancellor, R. L., Langergraber, K., Ramirez, S., Rundus, A. S., & Vigilant, L. (2012). Genetic Sampling of Unhabituated Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in Gishwati Forest Reserve, an Isolated Forest Fragment in Western Rwanda. International Journal of Primatology, 33(2), 479-488. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-012-9591-6 | <span id="R00611"></span>Chancellor, R. L., Langergraber, K., Ramirez, S., Rundus, A. S., & Vigilant, L. (2012). Genetic Sampling of Unhabituated Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in Gishwati Forest Reserve, an Isolated Forest Fragment in Western Rwanda. ''International Journal of Primatology'', 33(2), 479-488. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-012-9591-6 doi:10.1007/s10764-012-9591-6] | ||
<span id="R00612"></span>Chancellor, R., Rundus, A., Nyiratuza, M., Nyandwi, S., & Aimable, T. (2020). Community‐based conservation and chimpanzee research in Gishwati forest, Rwanda. ''American Journal of Primatology'', 83(4). [https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23195 doi:10.1002/ajp.23195] | |||
<span id="R00613"></span>Inman, S. & Ntoyinkama, C. (2020). Recent Survey of Birds in Gishwati Forest, Rwanda. Scopus, 40(1), 7–15. [https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/e7a5ba8912eea7e70cb92fe92e2b2fe9e8558eff link] | |||
<span id="R02200"></span>Kiribou, R., Tehoda, P., Chukwu, O., Bempah, G., Kühl, H. S., Ferreira, J., …, & Heinicke, S. (2024). Exposure of African ape sites to climate change impacts. ''PLOS Climate'', 3(2), e0000345. [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345 doi:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345] | |||
<span id="R02000"></span>NASA Earth Observatory. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/38644/gishwati-forest-rwanda | |||
'''Page created by: '''APES Atlas Team''' Date:''' 2020-12-30 | '''Page created by: '''APES Atlas Team''' Date:''' 2020-12-30 | ||
Latest revision as of 17:53, 15 October 2026
East Africa > Rwanda > Gishwati-Mukura National Park
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Summary
- Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) are present in Gishwati-Mukura National Park.
- It has been estimated that 28 individuals occur at the site.
- The chimpanzee population trend is increasing.
- The site has a total size of 35.58 km².
- Key threats to chimpanzees are deforestation, illegal cattle grazing, hunting & mining.
- Conservation activities have focused on conducting anti-poaching patrols, establishing “eco-clubs” for conservation education, and running a long-term research project.
Site characteristics
Located in northwest Rwanda, Gishwati-Mukura National Park is located roughly between Volcanoes National Park to the north and Nyungwe National Park to the south. The park is made up of two parts: the larger Gishwati forest, and small Mukura forest. The forests are situated on the ridge that divides the Congo and Nile water catchment areas, along the Albertine Rift in the west of the country (Visit Rwanda). In addition to eastern chimpanzees, other primates inhabiting the site include golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s and blue monkeys. A recent survey of birds detected 155 species, including 20 which are endemic to the Albertine Rift (Inman & Ntoyinkama 2020).The Gishwati Forest was declared a Forest Reserve in 1951; in 2015 Gishwati Forest was gazetted as part of the Gishwati-Mukura National Park (Inman & Ntoyinkama 2020). The site is part of the Gishwati-Mukura Landscape Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, since 2020.
Table 1. Basic site information for Gishwati-Mukura National Park
| Species | Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii |
| Area | 35.58 km² |
| Coordinates | Lat: -1.751373 , Lon: 29.441319 |
| Type of site | Protected area (National Park) |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical moist montane forest |
| Type of governance | Governance by government |
Types of sites Governance types Habitat types
Ape status
The chimpanzee population in the Gishwati forest has increased in size, from 13 individuals in 2007, to 19 individuals in 2010, and more recently, in 2019, chimpanzee trackers were able to identify 28 individuals (Chancellor et al. 2020).
Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Gishwati-Mukura National Park
| Species | Year | Occurrence | Encounter or vistation rate (nests/km; ind/day) | Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI) | Abundance estimate (95% CI) | Survey area | Sampling method | Analytical framework | Source | Comments | A.P.E.S. database ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii | 2019 | 28.0 | Gishwati Forest | Full count | Chancellor et al. 2020 | ||||||
| Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii | 2009-2010 | 19.0 | Gishwati Forest Reserve | Genetic (dung/hair) | Chancellor et al. 2012 | RWA0002 |
Sampling methods Analytical frameworks
Threats
Deforestation has been a major problem in the area; by 2001, only 1,500 acres of the forest’s original 250,000 remained (NASA Earth Observatory). Other important threats include illegal cattle grazing, hunting, illegal mining and logging, and agricultural expansion (Chancellor et al. 2020).
Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Gishwati-Mukura National Park
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | High (more than 70% of population affected) | Deforestation is a key threat at the site; by 2001, only 1,500 acres of the forest’s original 250,000 remained (NASA Earth Observatory; Chancellor 2020). | 2001-Ongoing (2020) |
Conservation activities
In 2010, the Gishwati Area Conservation Program, sponsored by Great Ape Trust, was given the responsibility for managing and implementing conservation interventions in Gishwati Forest for 3 years. As part of the program, a key objective was to restore a forest corridor between Gishwati and Nyungwe Forest National Park to connect the chimpanzee populations and preserve genetic diversity.
Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Gishwati-Mukura National Park
| Category | Specific activity | Description | Implementing organization(s) | Year of activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Counter-wildlife crime | 2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols | Eco Guards monitor illegal and unsustainable human activities including cattle grazing, logging, charcoal production, and mining in Gishwati forest (Chancellor et al. 2020). | Ongoing (2020) | |
| 4 Education & awareness | 4.1 Educate local communities about apes and sustainable use | Establishment of eco-clubs in nearby primary and secondary schools, where children learn about conservation and the local flora and fauna (Chancellor et al. 2020). | Ongoing (2020) | |
| 5 Protection & restoration | 5.2 Legally protect ape habitat | The site was declared a National Park in 2015 (Inman & Ntoyinkama 2020). | 2015-Ongoing (2026) | |
| 8 Permanent presence | 8.1 Run research project and ensure permanent human presence at site | Since 2008, long-term chimpanzee research began in Gishwati (Chancellor et al. 2020). | 2008-Ongoing (2020) |
Challenges
Table 5. Challenges reported for Gishwati-Mukura National Park
| Challenges | Specific challenges | Source | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not reported |
Enablers
Table 6. Enablers reported for Gishwati-Mukura National Park
| Enablers | Specific enablers | Source | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Site management | |||
| 2 Resources and capacity | |||
| 3 Engaged community | |||
| 4 Institutional support | |||
| 5 Ecological context | |||
| 6 Safety and stability |
Research activities
https://www.cepf.net/sites/default/files/guidebook-gishwati-mukura-national-park.pdf
Documented behaviours
Table 7. Behaviours documented for Gishwati-Mukura National Park
| Category | Behavior | Observation type | Prevalence | Observation dates | Source | Habituation | Species | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not reported |
Exposure to climate change impacts
As part of a study on the exposure of African great ape sites to climate change impacts, Kiribou et al. (2024) extracted climate data and data on projected extreme climate impact events for the site. Climatological characteristics were derived from observation-based climate data provided by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP, www.isimip.org). Parameters were calculated as the average across each 30-year period. For 1981-2010, the EWEMBI dataset from ISIMIP2a was used. For the two future periods (2021-2050 and 2071-2099) ISIMIP2b climate data based on four CMIP5 global climate models were used. For future projections, two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) were used. RCP 2.6 is a scenario with strong mitigation measures in which global temperatures would likely rise below 2C. RCP 6.0 is a scenario with medium emissions in which global temperatures would likely rise up to 3C by 2100. For the number of days with heavy precipitation events, the 98th percentile of all precipitation days (>1mm/d) was calculated for the 1979-2013 reference period as a threshold for a heavy precipitation event. Then, for each year, the number of days above that threshold was derived. The figures on temperature and precipitation anomaly show the deviation from the mean temperature and mean precipitation for the 1979-2013 reference period.
The estimated exposure to future extreme climate impact events (crop failure, drought, river flood, wildfire, tropical cyclone, and heatwave) is based on a published dataset by Lange et al. 2020 derived from ISIMIP2b data. The same global climate models and RCPs as described above were used. Within each 30-year period, the number of years with an extreme event and the average proportion of the site affected were calculated (Kiribou et al. 2024).
Table 8. Estimated past and projected climatological characteristics in Gishwati-Mukura National Park
| Value | 1981-2010 | 2021-2050, RCP 2.6 | 2021-2050, RCP 6.0 | 2071-2099, RCP 2.6 | 2071-2099, RCP 6.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean temperature [C] | 17.6 | 18.7 | 18.5 | 18.9 | 20.1 |
| Annual precipitation [mm] | 1306 | 1324 | 1459 | 1329 | 1455 |
| Max no. consecutive dry days (per year) | 30.8 | 35.4 | 34 | 36.8 | 32.9 |
| No. days with heavy precipitation (per year) | 5.5 | 6.8 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 9.6 |
Table 9. Projected exposure of apes to extreme climate impact events in Gishwati-Mukura National Park
| Type | No. of years with event (2021-2050, RCP 2.6) | % of site exposed (2021-2050, RCP 2.6) | No. of years with event (2021-2050, RCP 6.0) | % of site exposed (2021-2050, RCP 6.0) | No. of years with event (2070-2099, RCP 2.6) | % of site exposed (2070-2099, RCP 2.6) | No. of years with event (2070-2099, RCP 6.0) | % of site exposed (2070-2099, RCP 6.0) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crop failure | 5 | 1.75 | 4 | 1.26 | 4 | 2.33 | 9.5 | 1.63 |
| Drought | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Heatwave | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| River flood | 3.25 | 2.35 | 4.25 | 8.77 | 2 | 1.59 | 5.25 | 2.8 |
| Tropical cyclone | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wildfire | 30 | 0.38 | 30 | 0.32 | 29 | 0.29 | 29 | 0.22 |
-
Precipitation anomaly in Gishwati-Mukura National Park -
Temperature anomaly in Gishwati-Mukura National Park
External links
Visit Rwanda - Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Gishwati-Mukura Landscape Biosphere Reserve UNESCO
References
Chancellor, R. L., Langergraber, K., Ramirez, S., Rundus, A. S., & Vigilant, L. (2012). Genetic Sampling of Unhabituated Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in Gishwati Forest Reserve, an Isolated Forest Fragment in Western Rwanda. International Journal of Primatology, 33(2), 479-488. doi:10.1007/s10764-012-9591-6
Chancellor, R., Rundus, A., Nyiratuza, M., Nyandwi, S., & Aimable, T. (2020). Community‐based conservation and chimpanzee research in Gishwati forest, Rwanda. American Journal of Primatology, 83(4). doi:10.1002/ajp.23195
Inman, S. & Ntoyinkama, C. (2020). Recent Survey of Birds in Gishwati Forest, Rwanda. Scopus, 40(1), 7–15. link
Kiribou, R., Tehoda, P., Chukwu, O., Bempah, G., Kühl, H. S., Ferreira, J., …, & Heinicke, S. (2024). Exposure of African ape sites to climate change impacts. PLOS Climate, 3(2), e0000345. doi:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345
NASA Earth Observatory. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/38644/gishwati-forest-rwanda
Page created by: APES Atlas Team Date: 2020-12-30