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Plot No. 348, Forest Hill Area, Kingalu Road, Morogoro,Tanzania eamcef@easternarc.or.tz
Understanding the Eastern Arc Mountains

The Eastern Arc Mountains are a chain of ancient mountains covered by rainforests and grasslands in Tanzania and Kenya. Scientists believe that the forests have survived on the Eastern Arc Mountains for over 30 million years, and were once connected to the forests of the Congo Basin and West Africa. Neighbouring mountains are much younger, for example Kilimanjaro Mountain is estimated to be about 1-2 million years old.

The Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania and Kenya are among the most important areas for the conservation of biological diversity in the world. The conservation of these mountains is being supported by the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund in collaboration with the Government of Tanzania and various development partners including the Government of Norway, the World Bank and GEF/UNDP. The Eastern Arc Mountains stretch across 15 districts in Tanzania.

Where we work

Mountain BlocksTarget Districts
North/South PareMwanga and Same
West/East UsambaraLushoto, Korogwe, Muheza, Mkinga
NguuKilindi
NguruMvomero
UluguruMorogoro and Mvomero
UkaguruKilosa
RubehoMpwapwa and Kilosa
MalundweMorogoro
UdzungwaKilombero, Kilolo and Mufindi
MahengeUlanga
Key Features of the Eastern Arc Mountains

13 Blocks

separate Mountain blocks form the EAMs

600Km

of a broad arc formed by EAMs blocks

23 ,000 sq km

of the area covered by EAMs blocks

12 Blocks

of the EAMs blocks are within Tanzania, spreading in over 15 Districts – forming amazing landscapes!

40%

of the Tanzania’s remaining Tropical high forests are within the EAMs blocks

535 Sq Km

Of EAMs blocks are covered by tropical forests

200 Tons of Carbon

Released into the atmosphere per each hectare degraded

152 Mill. tons of Carbon

Estimated to be stored in EAMs forests, potential for climate change mitigation

What is special about the Eastern Arc Mountains?
water
Water

Agriculture, industry and domestic users depend on the Eastern Arc for their water supply. The Eastern Arc Mountains are the catchment areas for many of the important rivers of eastern Tanzania. The Ruvu River that supplies water to Morogoro, Coast and Dar es Salaam flows from the Uluguru Mountains; the Sigi river that supplies water to Tanga flows from the East Usambara Mountains. Morogoro and Iringa receive most of their water from the Eastern Arc Mountains. The Wami, Kilombero, Little Ruaha and Pangani Rivers also flow from different ranges within the Eastern Arc Mountains and have enormous benefits for rural people and agricultural schemes in the lowlands. At least 25% of Tanzanians depend on the Eastern Arc Mountains for their water supply, and without this the economic future of the country would be in doubt.

Biodiversity

Many thousands of species of plants and animals are found in these forests and nowhere else on earth. This includes at least 100 species of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles; at least 500 plants and huge numbers of smaller creatures including butterflies and millipedes. Many of these species are threatened with extinction.

The Eastern Arc Mountains region is recognised internationally as an area with an exceptional concentration of species that occur nowhere else on earth.

Leptopelis barbouri. Two months of surveys, and this is still the only treefrog I've seen here :-/
Ecnomic Value
Economic Value

The Eastern Arc Mountains supplies many resources and environmental services for the people of Tanzania.

The total economic value of these resources has been estimated as at least $620 million.

ELECTRICITY

Hydroelectric power using water from the Eastern Arc Forests contributes more than 50% of the electricity supply in Tanzania.

This power is essential to economic growth and development of the country. A reliable source of water is crucial to avoid serious power blackouts and shortages, with the major inevitable economic consequences.

500kV_3-Phase_Transmission_Lines
Addressing-food-insecurity-hashim
AGRICULTURE

The cool and reliable climate in the Eastern Arc allows the cultivation of many food and cash crops, which feed local populations and are exported to towns and cities. Fruits and vegetables exported to Dar es Salaam and other large cities include bananas, apples, pears, peaches, plums, cabbages, potatoes, peas, and other specialist items such as leeks, celery, parsley and strawberries. Food grown in the Eastern Arc and exported to towns makes a major contribution to feeding the people of Tanzania and reducing poverty. Due to fertile soils and sufficient rainfall the Eastern Arc Mountains area is famous for large scale farming of Cash Crops, e.g. Coffee, Tea and Sugarcane estates (Kilombero and Mtibwa Sugar Estates).

TOURISM

The forests and mountains of the Eastern Arc provide an attraction to visiting tourists. Current tourist locations include the South Pare Mountains, Udzungwa Mountains National Park, Amani Nature Reserve in the East Usambaras, Lushoto in the West Usambaras and the area above Morogoro in the Uluguru Mountains.

The Eastern Arc is increasingly becoming popular with tourists particularly those with specialist interests in birds and wildlife. The area also offers an unparalleled wilderness experience for the more adventurous visitors.

Tourism

“In my house we managed to install a small biogas feeder that utilizes animal dung to generate energy for cooking. I bought a stove and constructed a good kitchen”
Sifa Mwandila Idegenda – Village, Kilolo District

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