Frontier Tanzania Environmental Research REPORT 110 ...

Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserve
32
5. FOREST USE AND HUMAN IMPACT
Authors: Hall, S.M., Staddon, S. and Murphy, A.
5.1 INTRODUCTION
The small fragmented nature of Coastal Forests, surrounding growing impoverished rural
communities with increasing demands on forest resources, and a lack of adequate protection
mean that biodiversity is seriously under threat.
Kazimzumbwi epitomises the problems facing forests near Dar es Salaam. Almost all trees of
commercial value were removed during commercial logging activities, according to local sources
ending in 1980. Timber is the top ranking perceived value of forest products for young men
surrounding Kazimzumbwi FR (Lagerstedt 1995 and Mwamfupe 1997).
A long history of non-timber exploitation also exists wit hin Kazimzumbwi FR including charcoal
production, cultivation, pole extraction, fuelwood collection, hunting and collection of medicinal
and food plants. An extensive network of resource collection trails covers the forest.
Charcoal production was common in the forest reserve until 1991 when forest guards were
employed by the Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania (WCST) to address these illegal
activities. Charcoal has been shown to be the second ranking perceived value of forest products
for men, young men and women surrounding Kazimzumbwi FR (Lagerstedt 1995 and
Mwamfupe 1997). Logging for the production of charcoal, possibly combined with logging for
firewood, removed virtually all trees from some areas (Clarke & Dickinson 1995).
Building materials have been collected from Kazimzumbwi FR for local use, and poles recorded
as having been collected commercially for sale in Dar es Salaam (Burgess & Dickinson, 1993).
Building materials and poles have been shown to be the third ranking perceived value of forest
products for men, young men and women surrounding Kazimzumbwi FR (Lagerstedt 1995 and
Mwamfupe 1997). Concerns exist regarding the effects of commercial scale exploitation of poles.
The effects of extracting selectively chosen species such as Scorodophloeus fischeri potentially
damage the forest by removing young canopy trees, altering its natural composition (Clarke &
Dickinson, 1995).
Firewood collection is the most important perceived value of forest products for women
surrounding Kazimzumbwi FR, and has been recorded as commonplace. Collection of traditional
medicines, honey and gum has also been noted (Clarke & Dickinson, 1995 and Burgess &
Dickinson, 1993).
A number of trial plots were established within the natural forest areas of Kazimzumbwi FR
mainly for exotic timber species such as teak (Tectona grandis), blackwood cassia (Senna
siamea), Eucalyptus sp., rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and the indigenous timber species Mninga
(Pterocarpus angolensis). Results from these trials indicate that Kazimzumbwi FR is a marginal
to suitable site for pine plantations (Procter, 1996 in Somi & Nshubemuki, 1980 in Burgess &
Dickinson, 1993).
Past threats to large mammals in Kazimzumbwi FR have been acute (Burgess & Dickinson,
1993). Hunting for local and probably commercial operations has occurred. Most commonly
trapped species were duiker and bush pig. Black and white colobus monkeys and hippopotamus
Frontier-TanzaniaCoastal Forest Research Programme