Frontier Tanzania Environmental Research REPORT 110 ...

Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserve
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include Baphia puguensis, Nesogordonia holtzii, Diospyros sp. and Ludia mauritiana. The former
of these species is endemic to the Pugu Hills and thus any threat to it is of particular concern.
Makonde carving has endangered the black wood species Dalbergia melanoxylon. This species is
currently particularly rare within the reserve and Annona senegalensis is used as an alternative. It
is thought that if not controlled, the making of animal traps from Rinorea angustifolia may effect
this evergreen shrub. Bushfires are also a problem within Kazimzumbwi FR, particularly for
easily combustible shrubs and herbs during dry season periods. According to the Coastal Forest
Medicinal Plant Checklist (Mathews 1993) many shrubs and herbs found within Kazimzumbwi
FR are of great medicinal value, thus bushfires threaten not only the biological value but also the
medicinal and commercial value of the reserve.
A number of exotic and pioneer species were recorded in Kazimzumbwi FR. Plantations and trial
plots of the timber species Eucalyptus sp., Tectona grandis, Pinus patula and Cassia siamea were
observed, although these species tended to be confined to such areas. Cassia siamea is also
planted to mark parts of the northern border of the reserve however. Exotic species and pioneer
species such as Auraucaria sp. and Trema orientalis (respectively) were observed within wooded
grasslands near to the forest border in the north of the reserve. Another exotic species, Magnifera
indica, was recorded in an area of Brachystegia Forest in the west of the reserve whilst the
pioneer species Lantana camara was recorded throughout the Dry Mixed Forest but only found
regenerating in gap areas and forest edge. Based purely on qualitative observational data, the
threat of ‘invasion’ by both exotic and pioneer species is however not currently considered
serious.
Frontier-TanzaniaCoastal Forest Research Programme