Frontier Tanzania Environmental Research REPORT 110 ...

Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserve
46
Table 13 Greatest mean extraction rates of poles and timber per hectare in Kazimzumbwi and
Manga Forest Reserves.
Forest Reserve (study
date)
Greatest mean extraction rate
of poles along transect section
(between vegetation plots) per
hectare
Greatest mean extraction rate
of timber along transect section
(between vegetation plots) per
hectare
Kazimzumbwi FR
(2001)
383 89
Manga FR (1997) 80 60
5.5.2 EFFECTS OF ACCESS ON DISTURBANCE
It is likely that the main factor affecting disturbance in Kazimzumbwi FR is access. A
complicated network of footpaths exists within the reserve. The ma in routeways include border
paths, the railway that accesses northern parts of the reserve, and the large footpath that transects
the central parts of the reserve running from Buyuni village in the east to Vigama and
Kazimzumbwi villages in the west.
Most timber extraction and pitsawing activities were seen around the Buyuni to
Vigama/Kazimzumbwi footpath, particularly in the east (Buyuni side). Kazimzumbwi FR forest
guards are based in Kisarawe offices, which are a particularly long way from this eastern part
(Buynuni side) of the forest reserve. Current timber extraction and pitsaw activities around this
footpath are severely degrading forest structure. This extraction is unsustainable particularly as
few large trees remain.
Charcoal is still being extracted from Kazimzumbwi FR particularly near to borders where
extraction is easy. With increasing population pressures in the area, concern lies for the future of
the small patches of remaining forest.
Trapping of small antelope north of the railway is unsustainable at present intensities, action is
required before populations of these mammals are decimated. It was previously thought that
Black and White Colobus monkeys had been hunted out of Kazimzumbwi FR. Although none
were seen during the survey, they were heard. It is likely that small fragmented and possibly
isolated populations still exist which are still seriously under threat.
New settlement was not at present seen as a threat in any of the areas surveyed.
5.5.2 EFFECTS OF HABITAT ON DISTURBANCE
Kazimzumbwi FR comprises a patchwork of different types of secondary vegetation, which were
formed as a consequence of past disturbance. The concentrations of present disturbance types are
highly related to habitat.
Ridge tops in areas of closed dry forest have suffered from timber extraction and both old and
recent pitsaws were found. Closed dry forest on steeper slopes appeared to be less disturbed by
human activity due to its more inaccessible nature. This is also true of the Riverine and Swamp
Frontier-TanzaniaCoastal Forest Research Programme