Biodiversity Surveys of Poorly Known Coastal Forests of ...

Testudinidae, Appendix II; Chameleons, Appendix II; Python natalensis, Appendix II; and
Cordylus tropidosternum, Appendix II.
Ninety one species of birds were detected in the forests surveyed. The numbers of bird species
detected in each forest were: Namatimbili (58), Mitundumbea (66) and Matapwa 59. According
to the IUCN Redlist, one species, the Plain-backed Sunbird, is catogeorised as Near Threatened
and two species, the Southern Banded Snake Eagle and Reichenow’s Batis are considered
Vulnerable. Seven species were detected that are considered endemic and near-endemic to the
coastal forests of Eastern Africa.
Larger mammals present in the areas surveyed included elephant, lion and leopard. Evidence of
poaching of elephants included carcasses observed. Other mammals such as bovid ungulates were
hunted for food by local residents. Because water was a scarce resoruce in the area, large
mammals were vulnerable to poaching when they entered riverine vegetation en route to and from
river water. Hippopotami were present in the Pindiro area but were not seen elsewhere.
CITES listings for mammals include: African Elephant, Appendix I; Lion, Wild Cat, Leopard,
Otter, Vervet Monkey, Blue Monkey, Baboon, Ground Pangolin and Hippopotamus, Appendix II.
All Galagos (bushbabies) in family Galagonidae are also on Appendix II.
IUCN Redlist species include Red and black elephant shrew and Fout-toed Elephant Shrews listed
as VU, Vulnerable, Wild Dog, EN, Endangered, and the Rondo Galago, listed as Critically
Endangered, CR.
General conservation issues noted were lack of control over the harvest of timber and poles;
poaching of larger mammals such that offtake would appear to be unsustainable, encroachment
into forests for agriculture, and fire.
Suggested conservation measures include improving governance and accountability as regards
responsibility for management of the forest and wildlife resources. To avoid long-term effects of
isolation and fragmentation of forest patches on plants and wildlife, it is suggested that for the
plateau forests, connectivity be developed and maintained.
Regarding the forests of Zanzibar, we noted that there is need for detailed survey and study of
particular forest patches on the islands of Unguja and Pemba that have not yet received the
attention of biologists, as well as monitoring of existing forest patches. There is also scope for
extending connectivity between existing protected forest patches. In addition, because of the
generally small-scale nature of cultivation on the islands, surveys on cultivated land, especially
cultivation located between forest patches, might indicate the feasibility of connectivity between
forest patches, and/or programmes involving local residents in conservation efforts on private
land. .
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