LATE QUATERNARY POLLEN RECORDS FROM 2 UGANDAN MIRES - EVIDENCE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL-CHANGE IN THE RUKIGA HIGHLANDS OF SOUTHWEST UGANDA

High resolution pollen data from two mires in the Rukiga Highlands, southwest Uganda (Ahakagyezi Swamp and Muchoya Swamp) provide detailed evidence of the environmetal history of the region since ca. 42 000 yr B.P. According to these data, there a was period pre ca. 42 000 yr B.P.>. when climatic conditions were similar to the present. Conditions considerably colder and drier than the present occurred during two periods in the past (pre ca. 42 000 yr B.P. to ca. 32 000 yr B.P., and ca. 21 000 yr B.P. to ca. 12 000 yr B.P.). The most recent period of climatic improvement began ca. 14 000 yr B.P. Moist lower montane forest colonised the Muchoya catchment by ca. 11 100 yr B.P. and the Ahakagyezi catchment by ca. 10 600 yr B.P. indicating the establishment there of climatic conditions broadly similar to the present. Pollen data from both mires reveal forest disturbances beginning ca. 2200 yr B.P. This disturbances is likely to have been human-induced. © 1990.