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are located, the total loss of forest cover have been estimated to be 82%, with a 10,3%loss between 1975 and 2000 (Hall, Burgess et al. 2009). Most of the forest wascleared before 1955 during the colonial era, and can be connected with theestablishment of the many commercial farms and their production of sisal. Since 1975however, rates of loss have actually decreased along three mountain zones; thelowland mountains (200-800m), the mountains (1200-1800m) and the uppermountains (>1800). In contrast however, between 1975 and 2000 the rate of loss offorest cover have increased in the sub mountain zone (800-1200m). This tendency,can be explained by people moving upwards from the lowland mountains thatsuffered the highest rate of forest loss before 1975, towards the sub mountain zonewhere the forest is more intact.The two major forces of deforestation within Kilosa District are: forest clearing foragriculture and plantations and bio-mass for energy consumption much as a result ofan increasing urbanisation and population (Shishira, Yanda et al. 1997; Hall, Burgesset al. 2009). In addition, timber production and bush fires are also seen as two otherimportant and corresponding drivers of deforestation.Tanzania and Kilosa heavily depends upon the forest as a source of energy ascharcoal and firewood consists of almost 90% of the energy consumption nationwide(World Bank 2009). This nationwide demand for biomass energy have had hugeeffects on Kilosa District, where closeness to towns such as Dar es Salaam andMorogoro have facilitated it good access to large markets and resulted in extensivecharcoal production. In this case business people come in from urban areas withlicences bought from FBD, buying up what charcoal they can come over 21 of alreadyproduced charcoal from rural communities, and transport it back to the urban areaswhere they sell it to wholesalers. Besides charcoal production the forest providesenergy in the form of firewood for rural households and brick making as well as forthe Kilombero Sugar Factory that neighbours Mikumi National Park (Shishira, Yandaet al. 1997). Also playing a part in forest degradation is the location, with its easyaccess to and from urban areas, bringing up extensive forest extraction forcommercial purposes. However, it is not only market conditions which plays a part in21 The standard for a sack of charcoal set by the forestry and beekeeping division is 56kg. Licences aregiven out in accordance to number of bags.79