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 2,230 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 close to the Udzungwa National Park and West Kilombero Scarp Forest Reserve. (image: forest landscape in Idzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve)
The Udzungwas contain a number of reserves in different categories of management. The highest level of protection is found in the Udzungwa National Park that is found in Kilombero and Kilolo Districts and covers 190,000 ha. Lower levels of protection are found in Forest Reserves under central, local and village government management. In Kilombero District there are 6 catchment forest reserves (Iwonde, Iyondo, Udzungwa scarp (part), Nyanganje, Ihanga) covering 67,327 ha (much grassland). There are also 27 Forest Reserves, Village Forest Reserves and private forests in Mufindi District (Kibao, Mufindi Scarp East, Mufindi Scarp West, Kigogo, Njerera (Luhega), Ihang'ana, Idewa, Kidete, Lugoda Lutali, Myangala, Ndynduli, Duma, Kidegemsitu, Lufuna, Ipafu, Igoda, Mkonge, Kitwile, Mpanga, Luhunga, Madisi, Lulanda, Ukami, Mufindi Tea, Kyfulilo Farm, Malenda Farm, Brook Bond), covering around 28,000 ha (much grassland). Furthermore an additional 12 Forest Reserves and proposed forest reserves are found in Kilolo District (Mlali, Image, Kilanzi Kitungulu, Kisinga-Lugalo, New Dabaga, Ulagambi, W. Kilombero Scarp, Udzungwa scarp, Kitemele, Kawemba, Kitonga, Kimala), totalling around 165,000 ha (much grassland).
The vegetation of the Udzungwa Mountains is exceptionally variable, ranging from lowland forests, through sub-montane, 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.
(image: The Sanje Mangabey was recognised by scientists only 20 years ago. Early this year a new species of mangabey was also discovered in the Udzungwa Mountains)
Biodiversity
In terms of endemic species the Udzungwa Mountains support 15 strict endemic vertebrate species (with an additional two species being described), a further 27 Eastern Arc endemic vertebrate species and 36 Eastern Arc endemic trees. Some of the forests are relevantly well known, but a number of other forest areas are still largely unexplored biologically. 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.
(image: Lycophidion uzungwense A strikingly beautiful snake found in the Udzungwa Mountains)
Threats
In terms of threats the Udzungwa Mountains face 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. A catastrophic threat to one species, Nectophrynoides asperginis, was the building of the Kihansi hydro-electrical scheme which greatly reduced the flow across a waterfall, impacting a spray zone that was the only habitat for this species. Its chances of survival in the wild are precarious and small captive populations are also seriously threatened. It may soon become extinct.
(image: Pitsawing using a wooden frame is the usual way for large trees to be processed by hand into planks and carried out of remote areas)
Stakeholders workshop report - identifying conservation action priorities around Udzungwa Mountains National Park. (Click here to download PDF using WinZip)
Wildlife Conservation Society
Report on field trip to the central part of the Uzungwa Scarp Catchment Forests. David Moyer & Elia Mulungu 2004. (Click here to download PDF)
New Dabaga Ulangambi Forest Reserve Botanical Report (Click here to download PDF)
New Dabaga Ulangambi Forest Reserve Zoological Report (Click here to download PDF) New Dabaga Ulangambi Forest Reserve Management and Summary Report (Click here to download PDF) West Kilombero Scarp Forest Reserve Botanical Report (Click here to download PDF using WinZip) West Kilombero Scarp Forest Reserve Zoological Report (Click here to download PDF)
West Kilombero Scarp Forest Reserve Management and Summary Report (Click here to download PDF)
MEMA Community Monitoring of Natural Resource Use and Forest Quality
Foresters' Notes for Supporting Community Based Monitoring of Natural Resource Use and Forest Quality. Iringa District Lands, Natural Resources and Environment Office, 2003 (Click here to download PDF) Swahili Language Preliminary Manual for Community Based Monitoring of Natural Resource Use and Forest Quality. Iringa District Lands, Natural Resources and Environment Office, 2003 (Click here to download PDF)
Preliminary Manual for Community Based Monitoring of Natural Resource Use and Forest Quality. Iringa District Lands, Natural Resources and Environment Office, 2003 (Click here to download PDF)
MEMA Socio - Economic Baseline Report
Socio - Economic Baseline Study, COWI. December 1999 (Click here to download PDF)
PFM Plan Kitapilimwa, November 2001. (Click here to download PFM plan as a PDF, and here to download the PFM Map) PFM Plan New Dabaga Ulongambi, February 2002. (Click here to download PFM plan in English as a PDF, and here to download the PFM Map) PFM Plan New Dabaga Ulongambi SWAHILI, February 2002. (Click here to download PFM plan in Swahili as a PDF, here to download the PFM agreement in Swahili, and here to download the by-laws in Swahili) PFM Agreement, By-law and Management Plan North Nyang'oro, December 2001.(Click here to download PFM plan as a PDF, and here to download the PFM Map)
PFM Agreement, By-law and Management Plan for West Kilombero, February 2002. (Click here to download PFM plan as a PDF, and here to download the PFM Map)
HIMA (Hifadhi Mazingira)
Adopting a Farming System Approach to Facilitate Participatory Forest. Richard Minja & Robert East. Paper for World Bank/UNEP Africa Forestry Policy Forum. Nairobi, Kenya, 29-30 August, 1996. (Click here to download PDF)
