An Overview of Endemic Species in Tanzania’s Coastal Forests
Puro became involved in the Tanzania Coastal Forest Project out of a desire to give back to the continent that gave us Robusta coffee: Africa. They wanted to honour Africa as the continental birthplace of coffee and honour the lessons nature teaches us about harmony and rebalance. They wanted to pay it forward by creating a tenth of coffee that honours nature’s gifts. To do that, they raised funds to create ten coffees that honour nature.
The vision, strategy and action plan of the East African Coastal Forest Programme (EACP) must address the following:
- Increasing the area of forest cover
- Enhancing the role of forestry in socioeconomic development
- Conserving the remaining natural habitats and wildlife
- Contributing to sustainable agriculture and conservation of soil and water resources
- Promoting local equity and livelihood opportunities
Rural communities
The vast majority of people in rural areas live in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming. Tree crops supplement their income. Large tea and sisal plantations are located in Iringa and Vipingo, respectively. Farmers in these areas need emergency food supplies during periods of low rainfall. In addition, complaints about degrading soil fertility have become widespread.
Moreover, coffee is an important local crop in Kenya’s Kwale District. The forests assessed in this hotspot are the Lutali Forest in the S. Udzungwas and the Mogoroto Forest in the E. Usambaras. Similarly, the Nguru Mountain Forest and the higher altitudes of the Udzungwas are classified as medium threats. Coastal forests in both Kenya and Tanzania have been assessed. The study found that 75 per cent of the forests are classified as high or very-threatened, with 25 per cent medium or low threat.
Against this backdrop, it is important to address the situation of Mozambique’s coastal forests. The coastal forests of the country are under threat and unprotected. A comprehensive strategy must be developed to protect the coastal zone and ensure its future. This strategy should be based on data collected from other stakeholders and be included in the national budget by March 2002.
Overview of endemic species in Tanzania’s coastal forests
The Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa (CFEA) are a biodiversity hotspot in East Africa and are threatened by deforestation. This habitat is home to hundreds of endemic species, including five endemic mammals, six endemic birds, and 325 flora and fauna species. An Overview of Endemic Species in Tanzania’s Coastal Forests Tanzania’s coastal forests are a rich endemic plant and animal life resource.
Some 550 species are found only in the coastal forest, while 26 per cent are inland. Coastal forests support the various plant, animal, and fungi endemic species, including dozens of frog species. The coastal forests of Tanzania are an important part of the African continent, but conservation action is a key issue. More than two decades of field research and collaboration have led to an overview of the region’s endemic species.
These research efforts have led to various conservation plans, status reports, and management strategies. The authors also contributed to developing the country’s national park system and are actively involved in conserving and managing these forests. Coastal forests in Tanzania are managed in various ways, with some areas managed as forest reserves, while others are managed as private forest reserves.
The state’s national park system is divided into nineteen protected areas, while the remaining 20 areas have no protection status. Another four forests are privately owned, and the district government completely manages four. Two forest reserves in coastal regions of Tanzania overlap with the national park.
Developing a standardised methodology for surveys
The Tanzanian coast is an integral part of the country’s biodiversity. The region is also home to other natural resources such as coffee and coastal forests. But increasing population and conflict between coastal communities and commercial enterprises have put pressure on these resources. Although the government has identified coastal coffee plantations as other valuable resources, its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper also focuses on reducing poverty and easing the country’s natural resource pressure.
The forest sector is critically threatened by development and will need more aggressive action to sustain itself. The project has three components: data entry and management of specimen data, specimen collection and identification, and synthesis of non-specimen sources. Data entry includes physical identification and labelling of specimens and collection of data from non-specimen sources such as older writings and field notes.
These data are used to map the status and trends of forests in Tanzania. The workshop was attended by representatives of 15 CEPF projects and other conservation and management program representatives. The workshop reviewed the recent definition of coastal forests in eastern Africa. While the Burgess and Clarke 2000 definition is accepted as a working model, some vegetation types fall outside this framework, such as drier mangroves.
A standardised methodology for coastal forest surveys is required to complete the EACFP’s status report for eastern Africa. The workshop also discussed the definition of coastal vegetation communities in the region. The Malundwe project is currently addressing the challenges of CEPF sampling. While the Malundwe site is smaller and the topography is not as complex as CEPF sites, the general issues such as the number of transects, sampling density, and plot placement are the same.
The workshop identified the commonalities between the two projects. In addition, the Malundwe project is addressing the challenges of implementing a similar sampling strategy. Lack of standardised GIS facilities Tanzania’s coastal forests are managed in complex ways. The vast majority of forests are forest reserves on public land, and a further twenty do not have protected status. Four coastal forests are private, while three are part of larger catchment forest reserves. The latter are incorporated into the new Sadaani National Park.
The lack of standardised GIS facilities makes them difficult to map and manage. The workshop was opened by Dr Hermann Mwageni, Acting Country Representative for the WWF Tanzania Programme Office. Coastal forests are important ecosystems for biodiversity and livelihoods. Because of this, the conservation agencies in the region face similar challenges. The workshop brought together key players and shared experiences to overcome this challenge.
Historically, WWF focused on site-specific planning but now needs to consider the ecosystem/landscape level. The lack of standardised GIS facilities for this region in Tanzania has created challenges for planning, management and monitoring. To manage these ecosystems more effectively, scientists must have a clear picture of resource use patterns. The Tanga District, for example, is a key area for coastal forests. Areas such as Maforonya, Tongue, Ngomeni, Gongoni, Kurawa and Kwale have varying levels of protection.
The EACF initiative should continue to facilitate regional collaboration among stakeholders.
By February 2002, interim focal points in each county will lead the country task force on coastal forests. It should be facilitated by the WWF and should focus on transboundary sites and dialogue among stakeholders. The regional coordination team will be established in the next year. This team should encourage collaboration and dialogue between the stakeholders and between Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
Developing a vision, strategy and action plan for realising national and transboundary aspirations The project is a critical step in implementing a conservation plan for the region. In addition to the coastal forests, the country also has a diverse range of other natural resources, including coffee. As the country grows in economic importance, its coastal forests decline rapidly. The project’s objective is to develop a vision statement for the region to guide conservation efforts and identify conservation targets.
The programme is also intended to inform the government of the next steps to implement the plan. Although the coastal forests in Tanzania are of national and transboundary value, they are also subject to increasing pressures and threats. These threats are primarily caused by increasing human activities such as shifting cultivation, illegal timber extraction, commercial and subsistence hunting, and settlement and agriculture. In addition, community participation is critical in ensuring the success of any conservation efforts in the region. Local communities and other stakeholders must be educated on sustainable resource use and conservation.
The workshop was opened by Dr Hermann Mwageni, Acting Country Representative for the WWF Tanzania Programme Office. Coastal forests in Eastern Africa are crucial for livelihoods and biodiversity. The challenges faced by conservation agencies are similar. In addition to identifying the main stakeholders, implementing a national and transboundary action plan involves identifying relevant stakeholders and integrating existing coastal forest initiatives.
To achieve the project’s objectives, eight coastal forest hotspots must remain intact by 2010 to protect endemic plant species and ecosystems. The project has also supported district staff in six districts by providing four motorcycles and technical inputs on forest matters. It has also surveyed 16 coastal forests and created village conservation committees. In addition, two socio-economic surveys have been undertaken. Finally, five Forest Posts have been established in three districts.
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