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Eastern Arc Mountains Forests of Tanzania
UDZUNGWA MOUNTAIN BLOCK
This is the largest of the Eastern Arc blocks stretching across four Districts in central Tanzania. A small part is
within Kilosa District and a strip of land is within Kilombero District (both Morogoro Region) and the rest is found
in Kilolo and Mufindi Districts of Iringa Region. The Udzungwa Mountains rise to 2,750 m altitude and there is a
large plateau area above 1,500 m altitude. There are at least 146 villages in the Udzungwa mountains,
containing at least 698,295 people. Some areas have high population density, but there are also large areas with
sparse population and few villages, particularly in the higher areas on the north-western margins of the
Udzungwa Mountains National Park and the Kilombero Nature Reserve.
The vegetation of the Udzungwa Mountains is exceptionally variable, ranging from lowland forests, through submontane,
montane and to upper montane forests. There are also extensive areas of montane grassland of
various types, montane wetland areas, and heath lands. At lower altitudes the vegetation grades into various
forms of woodlands.
Biodiversity
In terms of endemic species the Udzungwa Mountains support 19 strict endemic vertebrate species (seven
amphibians, two birds, three mammals and seven reptiles) and a further 44 Eastern Arc endemic vertebrate
species. There are also 65 vascular plants endemic to the Udzungwa block. Some of the forests are relevantly
well explored biologically, but a number of other forest areas are still largely unexplored. This includes the large
forest block on the Luhomero massif and many of the smaller forest reserves. The National Park is also not
completely surveyed. As new species of mammals and other animals continue to be discovered in the
Udzungwas it can be assumed that we do not yet have full knowledge of the species that are found there.
Threats
Management of the Udzungwa forests faces a number of challenges, foremost being extensive wild fires in the
grassland areas that sometimes enter and destroy areas of forest. Other threats include farmland encroachment
into some forests, logging where protection efforts are weak, and the collection of animals for the pet trade.
Core elements of the World Heritage property. Core areas are Udzungwa Mountains National Park (199,000
ha), Kilombero Nature Reserve (134,511 ha) and the proposed Uzungwa Scarp Nature Reserve (32,763 ha).
Buffer elements of World Heritage property. Udzungwa Mountains National Park is buffered to the north and
west by the Kilombero Nature Reserve. In the same way, Kilombero Nature Reserve is buffered to the south and
east by the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Together these two reserves from a contiguous management
unit covering over 330,000 ha of forest and grassland. The Uzungwa Scarp proposed Nature Reserve is not
buffered by any abutting forests; however, there is a potential corridor of land at Mngeta that could join Uzungwa
Scarp to Kilombero Nature Reserve. If this corridor is gazetted, then the effective conservation unit within the
Udzungwa Mountains would enlarge still further.
Other reserves in the Udzungwa Mountains. These include Iwonde, Iyondo, Nyanganje, Ihanga, Kibao, Mufindi
Scarp East, Mufindi Scarp West, Kigogo, Njerera (Luhega), Ihang'ana, Idewa, Kidete, Mlali, Image, Kilanzi
Kitungulu, Kisinga-Lugalo, New Dabaga, Ulagambi, W. Kilombero Scarp, Udzungwa scarp, Kitemele, Kawemba,
Kitonga, Kimala, Lugoda Lutali, Myangala, Ndynduli, Duma, Kidegemsitu, Lufuna, Ipafu, Igoda, Mkonge, Kitwile,
Mpanga, Luhunga, Madisi, Lulanda, Ukami, Mufindi Tea, Kyfulilo Farm, Malenda Farm, Brook Bond). In total
these cover at least 70,000 ha.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism