Dr Fred Babweteera

DPhil (Tropical Forest Ecology and Conservation) from the University of Oxford and an MSc (distinction) Forest Science, Policy and Management, University of Oxford.

Role

Fred Babweteera was the Director of Budongo Conservation Field Station (BCFS) and Regional Coordinator (AFRICA) from 1997 – 2021. RZSS has provided BCFS with core funding since 2005, and Fred was an RZSS Conservation alongside his role as BCFS Director. Now retired, Fred has passed this role onto David Eryenyu.

Fred is a highly motivated tropical forest ecologist with experience in teaching biologists and managing multidisciplinary conservation projects. He has initiated multidisciplinary research projects and used the results to formulate conservation initiatives that provide pragmatic solutions to sustainable management of protected areas.

Areas of expertise include: combining multidisciplinary research with ecosystem management, working with multi stakeholders especially local government institutions and conservation agencies, strategic planning, establishing monitoring programs, watershed management and restoration ecology, undertaking biological surveys, training graduate students in research/inventory methods, conservation project management.

Background

Fred Babweteera holds a DPhil (Tropical Forest Ecology and Conservation) from the University of Oxford and an MSc (distinction) Forest Science, Policy and Management, University of Oxford.

He is a member of the Governing Council of the Commonwealth Forestry Association, member of IUCN Species Survival Commission Primate Specialist Group. He is a subject editor for Biotropica Journal and International Forestry Review Journal. Member of the National Technical Committee of the Climate Risk Management programme, Climate Change Focal Point - UGANDA

He is a recipient of academic awards includingJubilee Award: 2001/2002 best performing candidate MSc Forest Science, Policy and Management, University of Oxford;Cooper Hill Award: For best overall candidate MSc Forest Science, Policy and Management, University of Oxford for the academic years 1999-2002;Brian Styles Award: Outstanding DPhil thesis in tropical plant biology, University of Oxford.

Other positions

Fred Babeweteera is also a Lecturer at Makerere University, Uganda.

He is a member of the Governing Council of the Commonwealth Forestry Association, member of IUCN Species Survival Commission Primate Specialist Group. He is a subject editor for Biotropica Journal and International Forestry Review Journal. Member of the National Technical Committee of the Climate Risk Management programme, Climate Change Focal Point - UGANDA

He is a recipient of academic awards including Jubilee Award: 2001/2002 best performing candidate MSc Forest Science, Policy and Management, University of Oxford;Cooper Hill Award: For best overall candidate MSc Forest Science, Policy and Management, University of Oxford for the academic years 1999-2002;Brian Styles Award: Outstanding DPhil thesis in tropical plant biology, University of Oxford.

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Papers

Tumusiime, D.M.; Eilu, G.; Tweheyo, M.; Babweteera, F.,  2010, Wildlife Snaring in Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda, Human Dimensions of Wildlife 15:129–144
Babweteera, F.; Brown, N.,  2010, Spatial patterns of tree recruitment in East African tropical forests that have lost their vertebrate seed dispersers, Journal of tropical ecology 26: 193 – 203
Babweteera, F., & Brown, N.,  2009, Can remnant frugivore species effectively disperse tree seeds in secondary tropical rain forests?, Biodiversity and Conservation, 18(6), 1611-1627.
Babweteera, F.,  2009, Cordia millenii: On the risk of local extinction?, African Journal of Ecology 47: 367 - 373
Amati S; Babweteera F; Wittig R,  2008, Snare removal by a chimpanzee of the Sonso community, Budongo Forest (Uganda)., Pan Africa News, 15 (1), 6-8.
Babweteera, F; Reynolds, V; Zuberbuhler, K,  2008, Conservation and research in the Budongo Forest Reserve, Masindi District, Western Uganda. Science and Conservation in African Forests, The Benefits of Long-Term Research, 145-157.
Babweteera, F; Savill, P; Brown, N,  2007, Balanites wilsoniana: Regeneration with and without elephants, Biological Conservation, 134, 40-47

In association with RZSS: Peer-reviewed papers

Agea, J. G.; Odur, S. O.; Babwetera, F.; Kaboggoza, J. R. S.,  2007, Abundance and utilization of Pyrenacantha sylvestris in Budongo Forest Reserve, western Uganda, African Journal of Ecology, 45, 107-111.
Tweheyo, M.; Babweteera, F.,  2007, Production, seasonality and management of chimpanzee food trees in Budongo Forest, Uganda, African Journal of Ecology, 45(4), 535-544.