Mahenge Scarp Forest Reserve - Frontier-publications.co.uk

Mahenge Scarp Forest Reserve: a biodiversity survey
found whilst transecting with evidence of timber, poles and / or planks (this does not refer to pitsawing
sites). Most cutting was old with only 2.7% and 3.7% of poles and timbers, respectively , being new cut,
confirming that this activity at present is low scale.
As well as recording levels of pole and timber cutting, the survey also revealed that 40 % of transects (69
out of 173 50m sections) had been damaged to some degree by fire, with most naturally dead poles and
timbers dying from this cause (an average of 36.1 and 16.1 per hectare). The fire damage was seen in the
northern lower slopes (transect line 1) of the reserve within woodland and by proximity nearest to Chikuti
village and it’s surrounding shambas (farms). Some fire damage was also seen along the southern boundary
edges (west end of transect line 2 and transect line 3), near to the road and cultivation. Therefore, it is
possible that these fires were uncontrolled, spreading from the shambas, although the local forest officer,
Mr Octavian Nkawamba had stated that in October 2002 deliberate fires had been set.
Pitsawing sites were encountered within the lowland forest area, near to zoological trapsite 3. Five
pitsawing sites were also seen along the transect lines, three within the lowland forest just below the
southern plateau of the reserve, and two within riverine forest pockets surrounded by bamboo dominated
woodland, further north.
Snare traps mainly targeting the small quantity of larger mammals, most likely bushbuck, were found and
the wires removed. The snare traps were located in between beacons 11 and 12 (Grid Ref: 0247536,
9046579) and near to beacon 8. This suggests that snares are placed at the periphery of the reserve.
However, near to one of the charcoal production areas within open woodland in the middle of the reserve
an old cane rat trap was found. Additionally three snares traps were observed, one of which was new and
all for medium sized animals.
The small degree of shamba encroachment in the periperal reserve (e.g. in the south) areas are likely
caused by poor demarcation of the reserve boundary since expansion and does not serve as a significant
threat as long as further encroachment is restricted. It is not known the exact extent of encroachment and
severity of threat on the far northern borders of the reserve, that area nearest to Chikuti village and their
shambas.
Frontier Tanzania Environmental Research Report 107 18