Eastern Arc Mountains Forests <strong>of</strong> Tanzania Climate: Rain falls in all months <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> year but peaks bi-modally in M<strong>arc</strong>h-May and September- December, with intervening drier seasons. Mean annual rainfall is 1,700 mm, increasing from 1,200 mm in <strong>the</strong> foothills to over 2,200 mm at higher altitudes. West-facing slopes are drier to those exposed to <strong>the</strong> east. Temperature ranges from 17.6 0 C at higher altitudes to 23.1 0 C in <strong>the</strong> foothills. Vegetation: The main vegetation types are: dense montane <strong>for</strong>est (30% cover) above1,250 m, submontane <strong>for</strong>est (60%) at 850-1,250 m and lowland <strong>for</strong>est (10%) below 850 m. These percentages are approximate as it is also recorded in <strong>the</strong> management plan that de<strong>for</strong>ested areas <strong>of</strong> shrubs and grass cover about 15% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nature Reserve. The submontane <strong>for</strong>est can be exceptionally tall and luxuriant, with <strong>the</strong> largest trees reaching 58 m in height in favourable sites. Species diversity: Frontier Tanzania (2002) recorded a total <strong>of</strong> 739 species <strong>of</strong> woody plants and herbs, representative <strong>of</strong> 127 families, <strong>of</strong> which 207 were from vegetation plots and <strong>the</strong> rest were recorded opportunistically. Summary <strong>of</strong> biodiversity values: Taxonomic group No. species*. No. endemic species No. threatened endemic/ near- No. endemic endemic species spp. OUV - Site endemic species No. threatened endemic species Flora 739 not compiled not compiled 1 not compiled Amphibians 35 7 12 0 0 Reptiles 41 4 2 0 0 Birds 97 5 5 1 1 Mammals **47 1 3 0 0 Vertebrates not compiled 17 22 1 1 *Frontier Tanzania (2002) **Includes 15 species <strong>of</strong> bats (Frontier Tanzania 2002). Management Plan Period: 2008/2009 – 2012/2013 Status: Prepared June 2009 and approved 11 November 2009. Staffing: The earlier complement <strong>of</strong> 11 staff was increased to 15 (1 Conservator, 1 Assistant Conservator, I Rese<strong>arc</strong>h/Training Officer, 2 Drivers and 10 Forest Assistants) following <strong>the</strong> recent approval <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> management plan. A total <strong>of</strong> 45 staff is required (including 1 Conservator, 1 Assistant Conservator, 1 Rese<strong>arc</strong>h/Training Officer, 1 Tourism Officer, 4 Field <strong>of</strong>ficers, 4 Forest Assistants, 4 Forest Attendants, 4 Tour Guides and 17 support staff, as listed in <strong>the</strong> management plan). Budget: T.Shs 6,216,775,512 <strong>for</strong> whole plan period, divided into T.Shs 1,434,012,025 as recurrent and T.Shs 4,782,763,487 as development budget. This budget is based on government and external funding. Objectives: To preserve habitats, ecosystems and species in as undisturbed a state as possible. To maintain genetic resources in a dynamic and evolutionary state. To maintain established ecological processes. To safeguard structural landscape features or rock exposures. To secure examples <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> natural environment <strong>for</strong> scientific studies, environmental monitoring and education, including baseline areas from which all avoidable access is excluded. To minimise disturbance by careful planning and execution <strong>of</strong> rese<strong>arc</strong>h and o<strong>the</strong>r approved activities. To limit public access. Ministry <strong>of</strong> Natural Resources and Tourism 40
Eastern Arc Mountains Forests <strong>of</strong> Tanzania Ministry <strong>of</strong> Natural Resources and Tourism