2011 a year of re-discovery - Karomia gigas and Erythrina scheilbennii

In 2011, A group of scientist have recently re-discovered the once-believed to be extinct flora species in Kilwa district. The species iis found close to Ngarama forest reserves and were not retraced since 1930s hence to be declared exitinct. However, with their recent discovery probably should be put into IUCN Red lists. Conservation measures are crucial to identify the remaining patches and promote regeneration for the surviving individuals.

Mbarawala coastal forests massif may be rescued from land grabbing!

In June 2011, a team of Kilwa Ditsrict Participatory Land Use and Management (PLUM) team, worked with Likawage, Nainokwe and Nakiu village for major land use planning, which included the establishment of proposed Mbarawala Plateau Local Authority  Forest Reserve. The plateau contains one of the huge remain vegetation massif of the last remaining coastal forests in Kilwa district. The land use planning came up with at least more than 23,000Ha to be surveyed as Kilwa LAFR. With partiners' initiatives in Kilwa who are mostly NGOs working in forest management, it is hope more open access forests will be put into ownerships of either Village land forest reserves or Local Authority Forest reserves, hence rescuing from speedy rush for 'land grabbing' and investments

Communty Certified Wood finds way to Denmark

Community based forest management for so long has been challenged for lacking tangible benefits; with introduction of FSC Group Certification Scheme managed by Mpingo Conservation and Develepment Initiatives (MCDI) has brought in an opportunity for communities. Retailer shops in Denmark (FDB) are eyeing certfed wood from community certified Village Land Forest Reserves (VLFRs) in Kilwa and Rufiji. In their visit to Kilwa FDB, they were impressed on how communities are managing their forests sustainably and harvesting in accordance with their harvesting plans. The certfied wood are processed at Sandal Woood Industry (SWI) sawmill and samples will be taken to FDB.

Lost and Found!

Erythrina Schliebenii, a coastal forest endemic plant species was collected in the 1930s in forest patches near the sides of Lake Lutamba in Lindi, which has since been cleared (according to IUCN). Repeated searches for this species at its type locality have failed to rediscover it, but only on 10th June 2011, one researcher Frank Mbago made its re-discovery near Namatimbli gorge along Ngarama coastal forest massif in Kilwa district. Scientists are expecting some more to be discovered in the last remaining undisturbed coastal forests patches. Rush for the save!

About Coastal Forests of Tanzania, Kenya and Mozambique

The East African Coastal Forests (Tanzania, Kenya and Mozambique) have been recognized as a distinct Global Hotspot for the Conservation of Biodiversity on account of high levels of both endemism (plants and several animal taxa) and species richness, both within and between the many constituent small forest patches. This fragmentation into many (>100) distinctive (in terms of substrate, moisture and so diversity) patches, averaging <500 ha.

Coastal closed forest patches are surrounded by a matrix of different woodland, wooded grassland and cultivation areas. Woodlands (eastern dry miombo / coastal savanna) have valuable timber trees which led to massive logging pressure by late 1990s. This situation have led to strengthening forest management, and especially local community involvement through Participatory Forest Management (PFM).