Mgambo Forest Reserve: A biodiversity survey. - Eastern Arc ...

Mgambo Forest Reserve
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6.4 Fauna
Twenty three species were listed as near endemic to the Usambara Mountains. Thirty eight fauna
species were forest dependant, many of which were butterflies.
Three species recorded in Mgambo FR have endangered status (either listed by IUCN, 2000 or
UDSM, 1997) - one mammal, one reptile and one amphibian species.
6.5 Conservation
The forests of the East Usambara Mountains are recognised as being part of a Biodiversity
Hotspot (Mittermeier, 1999), an Endemic Bird Area (ICBP, 1992), a Centre of Plant Diversity
(WWF and IUCN) and a Globally Important Ecoregion (WWF). They are a conservation priority
due to their floral and faunal diversity and to the high number of endemic species. The forests also
have a direct value to surrounding communities as a principle water catchment area and as a
source of fuel-wood and medicinal plants.
The forests of the East Usambara Mountains have been reduced to fragments within a matrix of
agricultural land. Little forest remains outside of the gazetted forest reserves. For those species
that are forest dependent, the forest reserves now provide almost the only available habitat.
There are differences in the perceived value of the forests between the villagers and the Forest and
Beekeeping Division. Alternative sources of building material and fuel are required in order to
meet the needs of surrounding villages while ensuring the protection of the forests.
The impact of illegal fire damage and overgrazing is of serious concern throughout Mgambo
Forest Reserve and increased protection is required to prevent future disturbance destroying the
patches of forest that remain. Further degradation of forest habitats in Mgambo FR will lead to
local population extinctions, particularly of those species identified as being at high risk. The loss
of forested areas in Mgambo will also reduce the reliability of the water supply to neighbouring
communities.
It is likely that past hunting has seriously depleted large mammal populations. Present data
supports this. Little can presently be done to reverse this problem unless the need for forest meat
disappears.
Mgambo FR, as one of the smaller forest blocks in the East Usambara Mountains, has a
particularly high risk of flora and faunal population extinctions compared to larger forest reserves.
There is a need for older generations and forestry managers, jointly, to reinstil a sense of
responsibility amongst younger and less knowledgeable generations, to insure the importance of
the remaining forest is known. This will go some way towards helping the sustainable
management of their forest reserve. Small scale environmental education activities during the
present survey went some way to promote such an idea (refer to Frontier Tanznia, 2002a and
Frontier, 2002b), but much work remains. Mgambo FR is thought to be a very suitable location
for the implementation of Joint Forest Management activities. Surrounding communities have
well organised and active village and environmental committees.
East Usambara Conservation Area Management Programme Technical Paper 59