Biodiversity Surveys in the East Usambara Mountains: Preliminary Findings and Management Implications

Abstract

Geographically referenced biodiversity information is important for conservation management and zoning. Biodiversity surveys were initiated in the East Usambara Mountains in 1995 to provide baseline information on the biological values of the forests for management planning and monitoring, and to train field staff in the use of biological inventory techniques. They were conducted in ten-week field phases. Vegetation plots were laid along a grid of 450 m × 450/900 m. Forest disturbance was assessed using the grid transects. Selected groups of fauna were surveyed using standard methods. Inventories have been completed in ten forests covering 11,076 ha. New species have been discovered, and several range extensions have been documented. Data on local distribution of endemics and threatened species has been incorporated in management plans for Forest Reserves. About 35 foresters have been trained. During 1997 a database was developed for data entry, retrieval and mapping.