INTRODUCTION

As executive director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), I see two principal ways in which biological research aids conservation. First, are various processes that originate independently of UWA's direct involvement, such as the generation of data and proposals from university field stations, many of which are discussed elsewhere in this book. Second, is the production of data specifically aimed at assisting UWA's management aims. This chapter deals with the latter.

UWA was established in 1996, as a semi-autonomous parastatal governed by a Board of Trustees. It is in charge of the management of ten National Parks, twelve Wildlife Reserves and seven Wildlife Sanctuaries, and it provides guidance for five Community Wildlife Areas. Each of these Protected Areas (PAs) is allocated to one of seven administrative areas: the Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi-Mgahinga, Murchison Falls, Mt. Elgon, Kidepo, and L. Mburo Conservation Areas (Fig. 2.1).

UWA operates under a Strategic Plan which guides management interventions. This strategic plan is roughly divided into three strategic programs: Protected Area management, community conservation and benefits, and wildlife management outside Protected Areas. The monitoring and research program is part of the PA management program.

In this chapter I highlight the monitoring and research strategic program to illustrate its importance for conservation goals. Reasonably accurate data are vital for planning and implementing practical management policies, so research plays a critical role.