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Biodiversity studies in Kilwa and Lindi Districts Map 4. The vegetation in Kilwa District. 28
Biodiversity studies in Kilwa and Lindi Districts The vegetation on the high ground shows a typical transition from coastal Brachystegia Forest through mixed scrub forest to different types of Eastern African Coastal Forests vegetations as one approach the sea. On the seaside of the plateaux smaller pockets of coastal forest occurs i.e. on Kitope Hill. Location of Coastal Forest types in Kilwa and their relative importance Today coastal forests in Kilwa District are mainly located on the row of large upland plateaux that runs through the hinterland of Tanzania south of the Rufiji River and on a number of isolated hills close to the sea. Matumbi Hills situated in the northern part of Kilwa District have been populated for centuries and still holds a high population. This has resulted in a degradation of the much of the natural coastal forest vegetation that once is believed to have covered these hills. Analysis of satellite images indicates that the forest reservation even in the two forest reserve of this area (Tongòmba Forest Reserve and Mbinga Forest Reserve) is severely degraded with nearly all large trees removed leaving only a coastal Shrub Forest. On the southern slopes small pockets of more developed coastal forest may still exist. Although heavily logged Tongòmba Forest Reserve still contain parts of high forest of Legume Dry Forest. Further east and close to the sea is Kitope Hill, which also has small patches of coastal forest in particular, the Shrub forest type. The large Mitundumbea Plateau and its southern extension the Ruwawa Plateau holds most of the remaining coastal forests in Kilwa District. A large area of coastal forest is situated north of Mitundumbea Forest Reserve and appears to be previously un-described. Its biological importance still has to be determined but initial studies indicate that large patches of different types of coastal forests of high biological importance occur. South of Mitundumbea Plateau lies the large Ruwawa Plateau which includes two forest reserves: Ngarama North and South FR. Many patches of coastal forest still occur on this plateau especially on the northwestern part. This includes a area of app. 20 km 2 of high coastal forest (Mixed Evergreen Dry Forest) in the western part of Ngarama North FR observed on satellite images and subsequently visited as part of this project. Its biodiversity importance still has to be determined, however, during the brief field visit a possible new species of tree was discovered. West of Ruwawa Plateau is Mbwalawala plateau. This plateau also has patches of lowland forest, which seems rather similar to the ones on Ruwawa Plateau. Part of the forest vegetation is included in Pindiro Forest reserve, but large tracts of forest vegetation are present north and east of the reserve. Below the forests on the separate plateau’s and hills are described. For the purpose of this publication the lowland forest patches described under the following headings: • Kitope Hill a small isolated hill close to the sea in the extreme north-east corner of the district where small forest patches still occur • Matumbi Hill in the northernmost part of the district. The remaining forest patches are partly found inside Mbinga and Tongòmba Forest Reserves. • Mitundumbea Plateau just north of Ruwawa Plateau is covered by a mix of scrub forest and woodland. In places, patches of more developed forest occur such as the impressive riverine forest that occur in the canyon of the Mavuji River. The southeastern part of this area is included in Mitundumbea Forest Reserve. 29
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UTUMI Biodiversity surveys, Tanzania. - Coastal Forests of Kenya ...

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