26 
Bulletin of the EANHS 29( 1/2) 
the historical and present distribution of the species in 
the wild. Sighting records (grid reference for greatest 
accuracy) of this species, together with Atlas and 
museum specimen data will assist in creating an 
understanding of past and present distribution ranges 
of the species. 
A form for entering records can be obtained directly 
from the author or from ihc Ornithology Dept . National 
Museums of Kenya. Nairohi. Kenya I took forward to 
hearing from interested parties If anyone is interested 
in corresponding with me please feel free to do so 
Craig Symes, Research Centre for African Parrot 
Conservation. School of Botany and Zoology. University 
of Natal. Private Bag XOI. Scotlsvtlle 3209. South 
Africa. School Office Tel (0331) 260 5104. E-mail 
sy mes<g>/ooIogy. unp a: za 
REFERENCES 
Britton, P L.. Ed (1980). Birds oj east Africa: Their 
habitat , status and distribution East Africa Natural 
History Society Nairobi. 
Brooke. R.K. (1984). South African red data book— 
Birds South African National Scientific 
Programmes Report 97:1-213 C S I R Pretoria 
Chapin. J.P (1939) The birds of the Belgian Congo. 
Part II . Bulletin of the American Museum oj Nut urn! 
History. 75.1-632. 
Clanccy. P.A. (1997). The Cape Parrot an additional 
valid species. Honey guide 43:61 -6Z 
Downs. C.T ACT. Symes (1998). Cape Parrots. 
Report on the second Cape Parrot Big Birding Day. 
(25 April 1998). Psittascene IO(3):5-7 
Forshaw. J M (1989). Parrots of the VA>rht. Bok Books 
Mbabane 
Fry. C. H . . S. Keith & E. K U rban (19881 Vie birds of 
Africa. Vol III Academic Press London 
Wirminghaus. J O & M R Perrin (1994). The 
taxonomic relationships of races of the Cape Parrot 
Potcephalus robust us (Gmclin) Z.S.S.A 
Symposium. Pietermaritzburg, July 
Wirminghaus. JO. C.T Downs, C T Symes & M R 
ftrrin (in prep.). Taxonomic relationships of Ihc 
subspecies of the Cape Parrot Potcephalus robust us 
(Gindin). 
NETWORKING 
The EANHS and us sister organisations in East Africa 
arc a force for conservation in the region One of these 
organisations is the Albcrtinc Rift Conservation Society 
(ARCOS) They have been active in promoting 
conservation and biodiversity research in the Albcrtinc 
Rift for some time and have struggled on in spite of the 
many problems and disruptions in the area. The 
following is a press statement issued after a recent 
workshop of parties interested in the conservation of 
the biodiversity within Albcrtinc Rift 
ALBERTINE RIFT CONSERVATION SOCIETY/ 
ARCOS: PROMOTING COMMUNITY-BASED 
CONSERVATION AND REGIONAL 
INFORMATION EXCHANGE IN SUPPORT OF 
ALBERTINE RIFT MONTANE FORESTS 
Regional Priority-Setting Workshop, Kampala, 
Uganda 13-15 July 1999 
PRESS RELEASE 
Context 
From 13® lo 15“ July 1999. a regional priority-setting 
workshop on 'Promoting Community-based 
Conservation and Regional Information Exchange in 
Suppon of the Albcrtinc Rift Montane Forests" was 
held at the Economic ftilicy Research Centre. Makercrc 
University, Kampala, Uganda. The workshop was 
facilitated by ihc Albcrtinc Rift Conservation Society 
(ARCOS) in collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife 
Society and NaiurcUganda. 
The Albcrtinc Rift is die western branch of the Rift 
Valley, crossing along 1500 km from western Uganda, 
eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (D R.C.). 
Rwanda, Burundi, western Tanzania to northern 
Zambia. This region is recognised to be important in 
termv of biodiversity due mainly to a high proportion 
of endemic plants and animals, most of them located in 
patchy remaining montane forest blocks. These montane 
forests provide various services ranging from watershed 
protection, climatic regulations to various services to 
local people However, the Albcrtinc Rift montane 
forests arc under increasing threat resulting mainly from 
an expansion of human demands upon new land and 
resources from these forests, but also by the lack of 
effective conservation measures Many previous or 
planned conservation initiatives are currently inhibited 
or not operational due to political instability in various 
areas. 
The Albcnmc Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) 
was founded in 1995 with the mission to promote 
information and experience exchange, ctihancc public 
awareness and conservation, and sustainable use of 
natural resources in the Albcrtinc Rift region ARCOS 
believes that the key for the conservation of natural 
resources is to support local communities and to allow 
organisations and groups working on similar issues lo 
contact each other and discuss strategies to improve 
their actions. One area that ARCOS has attached 
particular attention is the Albcrtinc Rifi montane forests 
Specific objectives of the workshop 
The objectives of the workshop were the following 
