FBM 7203 Advanced Biodiversity Conservation
Course Objectives
By the end of the course students should be able to;
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Outline methods of assessment of biodiversity at different levels (genes, species and
ecosystems), along gradients, and methods of analysis of biodiversity data.
Explain biodiversity as a renewable resource and factors influencing the ‘renewable’ nature
of biodiversity in various ecosystems (natural and managed).
Outline importance of biodiversity in ecosystem processes as well as ecosystem resilience.
Discuss current challenges of conserving biodiversity amidst poverty and other competing
land/resource uses.
Explain the need for innovative pro-poor strategies for payment for ecosystem services.
Outline international conventions and agreements (e.g. CBD and CITES) in the conservation
of Biodiversity.
Course Outline
Biodiversity as a renewable resource; Role of biodiversity in ecosystem processes and resilience;
Biodiversity in various ecosystems: biodiversity levels; Biodiversity along ecological gradients and
in succession processes; Biodiversity and ecosystem management and conservation; Strategies for
biodiversity conservation; International conventions for biodiversity conservation and compliance.
Mode of delivery
 Lectures: 30LH
 Practicals (Laboratory and Field praticals): 30PH
Mode of assessment
 Continuous assessment (Take home assignments, Group work and Presentations, test) = 40%
 University examinations = 60%
Time needed to complete each item in course
Each topic requires 6.5 hours (of lectures, group discussion, and presentations).
4 hours of practicals.
Basic reading list
Bydack, R.K., Campa III, R., and Haufler, J. B. eds. (1999). Practical Approaches to the Conservation
of Biological Diversity. Island Press, Washington.
BirdLife International, 2000. Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx
Edicions and BirdLife International.
Byaruhanga, A., Kasoma, P. and Pomeroy, D. 2001. Important Bird Areas in Uganda. Nature Uganda,
Kampala.
CBD/UNEP. 2003. Handbook of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2nd ed.). Secretariat of the
Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal.
Davies, G. (ed.). 2002. African Forest Biodiversity: A field Survey Manual for Vertebrates.
Earthwatch, Oxford.
Eilu, G., Obua, J., Tumuhairwe, J. K. and Nkwine, C. 2003. Traditional farming and plant species
diversity in agricultural landscapes of south-western Uganda. Agriculture, Ecosystems and
Environment, 99 (1-3): 125–134. Available at www.sciencedirect.com
Groombridge, B. and Jenkins, M. D. eds. 1996. Assessing Biodiversity Status and Sustainability.
World Conservation Monitoring Centre. WCMC Biodiversity Series No. 5, Cambridge.
Hawksworth, D.L. ed. 1995. Biodiversity: Measurement and Estimation. The Royal Society. London.
Jaffries, M. J. 1997. Biodiversity and Conservation. Routledge Introductions to Environment Series,
London.
Howard, P.C., Davenport, T. and Mathews, R. eds., 1996. The Biodiversity Report Series. Forest
Department, Kampala, Uganda.
IUCN (2000). 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened species. Website: http://www.redlist.org/
Magurran, A. E. 1988. Ecological Diversity and its Measurement. University Press, Cambridge.
Mark, N. C., Sayer J. A. and Whitmore, T. C. (eds.). 1991 The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests.
Asia and the pacific. Publishers: Macmillan in association with IUCN.
Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, 1999. Vision 2025: A Strategic
Framework for National Development Vol. 1. National Long Term Perspective Studies
Project.
Ministry of Water, Lands and Environment, Wetlands Inspection Division, 2001, Wetlands Sector
Strategic Plan, 2001-2010, Kampala, Uganda.
Mittermeier, R. A., Gil, P. R., Hoffmann, M., Pilgrim, J., Brooks, T., Mittermeier, C. G., Lamoreux, J. and
Da Fonseca, G. A. B. (eds). (2004). Hotspots Revisited. Earth’s Biologically Richest and most
Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions. CEMEX, Mecico City.
Obua, J. and Harding, D.M (1995). Environmental Impact of Ecotourism in Kibale National Park,
Uganda. Journal of Sustainable Tourism 5(3): 213-223.
Obua, J. (1996). The Potential, Development, and Ecological Impact of Ecotourism in Kibale National
Park, Uganda. Journal of Environmental Management 50(1):27-38.
Ruyooka, D.B.A. & Obua, J. (2000). Forest conservation through ecotourism in Uganda. Discovery
and Innovation 12/1-2: 51-59.
Oldfield, S., Lusty C. and Mackinven (eds.). 1999. The World List of Threatened Trees, World
Conservation Press, IUCN/WCMC, Cambridge.
Plumptre, A. J., Davenport, T., Behangana, M., Kityo, R. Eilu, G., Ssegawa, P., Ewango, C. and Kahindo,
C. 2004. Albertine Rift. Pp. 255 – 262 in Mittermeier, R. A., Gil,
Fonseca, G. A. B. (eds). Hotspots Revisited. Earth’s Biologically Richest and most Endangered
Terrestrial Ecoregions. CEMEX, Mecico City.
Pooter, L., Bongers, F., Kouame, F. N. and W. D. Hawthorne. (eds.). 2004. Biodiversity of West
African Forests: An Ecological Atlas of Woody Plant Species. CABI Publishing, CAB
International, Oxon.
Poulsen, A. D., Hafashimana, D., Eilu, G., Liengola, I. B., Ewango, C. E. N. & Hart, T. B. 2005.
Composition and species richness of forest plants along the Albertine Rift, Africa. Pp. 129143 in I. Friis & H. Balslev (eds.). Plant diversity and complexity patterns. Local, regional
and global dimensions. Biologiske Skrifter 55.
Rabinowitz, D. (1981) Seven forms of rarity. In: The biological aspects of rare plant conservation
(Synge, H., Ed). Wiley, New York.
Rosenzweig, M. L. 1995. Species Diversity in Space and Time. Cambridge University Press.
Sayer J. A, Harcourt, C. S. and Collins, N. M. (Eds.). 1992 The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests.
Africa. Publishers: Macmillan in association with IUCN.
Stattersfield, A. J., Crosby, M. J., Long, A. J. and Wege, D. C. 1998. Endemic Bird Areas of the World.
BirdLife Conservation Series No. 7. BirdLife International, Cambridge.
Uganda Wildlife Authority, 1999, Wildlife Protected Areas System Plan for Uganda, Volumes 1-5,
Uganda Wildlife Authority, Kampala, Uganda.
WRI, IUCN, and UNEP, in consultation with FAO and UNESCO (1992). Global Biodiversity Strategy.
Guidelines for Action to Save Study and Use Earth’s Biotic Wealth Sustainably and Equitably.
World Resources Institute (WRI).
Websites:
http://www.biodiv.org;
Ramsar
Convention
(http://www.ramsar.org/);
http://www.wcs.org
Journals: Diversity and Distributions; Biodiveristy and Conservation; Conservation Biology