A new 10-year conservation partnership aims to strengthen wildlife protection and restore the declining lion population in Uganda’s Ishasha Sector.
Julie Larsen©WCS/Supplied
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have signed an agreement establishing a Conservation Management Partnership (CMP) for the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth Protected Area.
The partnership will combine the conservation and technical expertise of UWA and WCS to support the long-term ecological health of the area. Its focus will include improving wildlife protection, restoring habitats, developing tourism and reducing human-wildlife conflict.
Protecting an important wildlife landscape
Ishasha forms part of the Greater Virunga Landscape, one of Africa’s most biodiverse transboundary ecosystems. The wider landscape connects Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park, as well as the neighbouring Maramagambo and Kalinzu forests. The area is particularly well known for its tree-climbing lions, an unusual behaviour that has made Ishasha one of Uganda’s distinctive wildlife attractions.
However, the sector’s lion population has experienced a significant decline. An estimated 80 lions were recorded in Ishasha during the 1970s, while only a small population remains today. This has raised concerns about the population’s long-term demographic and genetic viability. Restoring the Ishasha lion population will therefore be a key priority under the new partnership.
Potential lion translocations
Where scientifically justified, the partnership could also involve carefully planned lion translocations to supplement the existing population. Any translocations will be undertaken in consultation with neighbouring communities and in accordance with Uganda’s national laws, relevant International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines and international conservation best practices.
The approach is intended to strengthen the population while ensuring that interventions are based on scientific evidence and appropriate conservation planning.
Supporting conservation and tourism
The new co-management model is designed to provide greater operational and financial support for conservation in Ishasha, while maintaining the Ugandan government’s sovereignty and ownership of the area. UWA will continue to exercise its statutory mandate over Uganda’s protected areas.
The agreement also builds on more than five decades of collaboration between UWA and WCS. Both organisations say the partnership reflects a shared commitment to restoring Ishasha’s ecological integrity, protecting its wildlife and strengthening tourism in the area. Working with surrounding communities will also be an important part of the initiative, with the partnership aiming to ensure that conservation brings lasting benefits to people living alongside the protected area.
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