Kambai Forest Reserve: A biodiversity survey. - Coastal Forests of ...

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Kambai Forest Reserve
Table 34. Summary of biodiversity of taxa surveyed.
Taxon:
Total no.
of
species
% forest
dependent
No. of nonforest
species
No. of
endemics
No. of
nearendemics
trees and shrubs 162 29.0 18 2 35 17
mammals 36 13.9 3 0 3 1
birds* 11 90.9 0 2 4 6
reptiles 18 44.4 0 0 6 6
amphibians 15 66.7 0 2 6 8
Total 242 -- 21 6 54 38
* This does not represent an inventory. This information is limited to the important species discussed.
Conservation
No. of
forest
dependent
endemics
and nearendemics
The East Usambara mountains are important due to their floral and faunal diversity and to
their water catchment value. The forests also provide an important source of fuelwood,
poles, timber, food and medicinal plants for the local people. Differences in the perceived
values of the forests have caused and still causes a conflict of interest between the villagers
and the Catchment authorities. The remaining forests of the East Usambara mountains are
now only small refuges of what was present just one hundred years ago as a result of human
exploitation (Hamilton, 1989). The area continues to be vulnerable because as the local
populations increase, there will be a need for access to new agricultural land. The major
concern of the people is that Kambai village is landlocked between Kambai forest reserve,
Semdoe proposed forest reserve and SHUWIMU land.
As has been documented many times before, the problem of resource exploitation of the
forest is that the forest is a fragile ecosystem. The soils are highly susceptible to soil erosion
once the land has been cleared. Due to the tight nutrient recycling in the forest, once the
land has been cleared the soil quickly loses fertility (Hamilton, 1989). Soil erosion increases
dramatically with the removal of the canopy cover, causing increased siltation of the rivers
(Bruen, 1989). This is of great concern considering that the East Usambaras are a major
water catchment site. This water is critical for the local people and also the Sigi river is the
main source of water for the coastal town of Tanga. In addition, the possible long-term
effect of deforestation is the apparent decrease in rainfall and the greater unpredictability of
the rainy seasons (Hamilton, 1989).
A number of the species encountered are at risk of local extinction as they are uncommon,
forest dependent, endemic and near-endemics. Degradation and fragmentation of Kambai
forest will inevitably cause local extinctions of populations of these vulnerable species further
limiting their ability to sustain viable populations. The loss of the forest may also have
devastating effects on the water catchment of the area.
East Usambara Catchment Forest Project Technical Paper 35