Table 1 Characteristics of land cover types in Karamoja (based on Thomas 1943 ; Allen et al. 2011 )

Croplands

About 1 to 4 km away from the manyattas (homesteads). Traditionally, the largest cultivations are those around Kangole (now Napak district), west of Moroto (Nadunget sub-county), around Kotido (Panyangara and Nakapelimoru) and north of Toror hills (Thomas 1943). From Lorengdwat through to Southern Karamoja-Namalu area are dotted plots of croplands. Water deficits are a known challenge to the cropping estate

All land is dedicated to the production of cultivated crops. In Karamoja, these are principally open cultivated fields with sorghum as the main staple crop (Figure 2d). Trees (often thorny bushes, twigs and trees) are cleared during land opening. Once productivity has declined, the farmer either clears the adjacent land and/or shifts to another location. These farmlands are often located a few metres from the manyattas to about 4 km away

Grasslands

Between four groups of hills, Moroto, Toror, Napak-Iriir (Figure 2a) and Lawor, there is a landscape of open grasslands. Grasslands also occur in the open plains of Nakaale in Amudat district after Tokora to the lower areas of Namalu through the broader plains of Moruajore and Pian Upe game reserve and much of Lolachat in Nakapiripirit district. This stretch of grasslands follows a northward trending through Lolachat to Iriir and to the foot slopes of Opopwa hills north of Napak district where Themeda triandra, Bracharia brizantha, and Sporobolus pyrimidalis are dominant grasses (Thomas 1943)

Land composed of annual, biennial and/or perennial self-seeding grasses. In Karamoja, these are natural grasses that include all the grass steppes and savannas in the east, grasslands of the broad valleys in the center and open grasslands of the plains in the south and west of generally grass steppes. Grasses such as Setaria holstii, Panicum meyerianum and Themeda triandra and the legume Clitoria ternatea can be found in these areas (Thomas 1943)

Thickets and shrubland

These are generally more dominant in Kotido (Figure 2b) district than anywhere else in the region. They also occur around Panyangara, Nakapelimoru and parts of Regen sub-county from areas of Lokadeli

Land on which vegetation is dominated by low-growing woody plants having single to multiple stems arising at or near the base (Allen et al. 2011). In Karamoja, this landscape when looked at from a distance forms whitish carpeting (especially during the dry season) of thorny trees (generally of a low height of 1 to 3 m although the more mature trees may reach 5 to 6 m) with short grasses at the base. These trees are generally Acacia species (e.g. Acacia drepanolobium, A. oerfota, A. kirkii) providing browse for ruminants

Woodlands

Generally tropical savanna-woodlands occurring in the south and west (Iririr), north west in the Labwor ranges (present day Abim district), central region around Mount Moroto, and far north to Mount Zulia area; from Nabuin (Figure 2d) through parts of Kamulasabala through to Acholchol in Nakapiripirit district; and areas around Moruita in Amudat district. Compared to all other districts in the sub-region, woodlands in Kotido are insignificant and those that exist occur mainly along river channels and a few major shrines (respected for traditional ceremonies)

Land with a plant community which, in contrast to a typical forest, contains trees that are often small, characteristically short-boled (height ranges 5 to 20 m) relative to their crown depth and form an open canopy only with the intervening area being occupied by shorter vegetation, commonly grass (Allen et al. 2011). In Karamoja, these areas are generally occupied by deciduous trees with a fair height level in the range of 5 to 12 m (Figure 2d at the far background). Tree species such as Combretum binderianum and Bauchinia thoningii can be found in this land cover with interwoven Acacia and other plant forms including grasses that similarly occur in the grasslands

Bushlands

Fringes of gardens, areas with a past history of grazing but with decreased grazing over the last 15 years and former abandoned kraals (old livestock enclosures). One can easily observe bushland land covers around Toror mounts, Lobel in Kotido district (Figure 2c). In Kaabong district, a wide spread beginning from around Lobunyet to the northeast trending parts of Nakimoru, Napararo, Kamion, Oropoi, Morungole and towards Pirre. In Moroto district, bushland can be observed after the Moroto River in the northeast trending to Lokisile, Ilokapel and after River Acholchol and towards the airstrip in Amudat district

Land with >15% to 20% bush or shrub cover and plant height ranging on average between 3 and 6 m. In the Karamoja case, some bush and shrub vegetation form a V-shape spreading canopy (Figure 2c). It is dominated by Acacia oerfota, A. mellifera, and A. nilotica, and around Lorengdwat in Nakapiripirit district and Lokisile in Moroto district, there is a mix of Euphorbia prostrate, E. candlebrum and E. tirucalli. A slight variation exists in the southern bushlands which are relatively stable and even becoming woodlands in places, while the bushlands in Moroto and parts of Kotido are relatively young with aggressive tree species of Acacia oerfota and A. mellifera. These were mainly identified by the key informants as formerly heavily grazed areas with some having occurred in former croplands