Kimboza Forest

Kimboza Forest is a lowland forest in Tanzania located at the foothills of the Uluguru Mountains 7°2′S 37°47′E. The large Ruvu River crosses the reserve and the forest stretches to the top of the nearby hills. It is interspersed by massive rock outcrops and has several permanent small streams.

Ruvu River in Kimboza Forest Reserve

During the 20th century, Kimboza was depleted by deforestation and commercial logging. Over the past two decades, the forest has been repeatedly affected by large fires that have spread from the surrounding land as a result of slash-and-burn agriculture. Local inhabitants have played a role in conserving the forest despite issues with land rights. Local communities and the Tanzanian Forest Agency have been involved in a joint forest management program. Due to the severe shortage of resources, limited successes have been achieved.

The area is of special conservation interest due to its exceptional biodiversity, including many endemic plants and animals.[1] Many medicinal wild plant species are used by local inhabitants around the Kimboza Forest Reserve.[2]

Kimboza National Forest Reserve was established in 1964. It is currently recognized as an IUCN Category IV — Habitat/Species Management Area.[3] The area is home to at least 226 vertebrate species, including 52 amphibians and 174 mammals. It has been described as the most important and species-rich lowland forest on limestone in Africa.

The forest holds special significance for conservation of the turquoise gecko (Lygodactylus williamsi), being only one of two localities in Tanzania where this critically endangered species is found.[4][5]

Two timber trees, Cedrela odorata and Tectona grandis, were established as monotypic plantations in several logged areas. Cedrela odorata[6] has now become invasive and is a threat to the unique biodiversity (management plan for Kimboza catchment forest reserve, Morogoro 2009).

The forest is readily accessible as it is crossed by the main road leading from Morogoro to the Selous Wildlife Reserve. It has a campsite with basic facilities. A number of trails leading visitors to a variety of ecological, cultural and landscape features have been established.[7]

Degraded land, that is partly forested and adjacent to the Forest Reserve, is now protected as part of the recently initiated Kimboza-Ruvu Gorge Conservation Area.[8] The Kirugo newsletter [9] highlights the aims and achievements of this initiative.

Notes
  1. Rodgers, W.A.; Hall, J.B.; Mwasumbi, L.B.; Griffiths, C.J.; Vollesen, K. (1983). The conservation values and status of Kimboza Forest Reserve, Tanzania (PDF). University of Dar es Salaam. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  2. Amri, Ezekiel; Kisangau, Daniel P (2012). "Ethnomedicinal study of plants used in villages around Kimboza forest reserve in Morogoro, Tanzania". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 8 (1): 1. doi:10.1186/1746-4269-8-1. PMC 3268735. PMID 22221935.
  3. "Kimboza Forest Reserve". ProtectedPlanet.net. Archived from the original on 2012-05-20.
  4. Wolfgang Böhme (Zoological Research Museum A. Koenig, Bonn; Lötters, Stefan; Morris Flecks (Herpetology Department, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig; Dennis Rödder (Global Reptile Assessment / Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn; Assessment), Holger Schneider (Global Reptile; Ulrich Schepp (Global Reptile Assessment / Das Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Frankfurt; Africa), Jumapili Chenga (TRAFFIC East & Southern; Assessment), Frank Weinsheimer (Global Reptile (February 22, 2012). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Lygodactylus williamsi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  5. United Nations Environment Programme, World Conservation Monitoring Centre (November 2013). "Review of Lygodactylus williamsi" (PDF). European Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-12-11. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  6. Kilawe, Charles (31 August 2016). "The Impact of Invasive Tree Species Cedrela odorota on Population of Critically Endangered Lizard Species Lygodactylus williamsi at Kimboza Forest Reserve, Tanzania". The Rufford Foundation. Archived from the original on 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  7. "Tourist Attractions of Kimboza Forest Reserve" (PDF). www.mikepalmer.co.uk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-12-25. Retrieved 2019-12-25.
  8. "Kimbosa Forest Reserve". Archived from the original on 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  9. "Kirugo newsletter, issue 1" (PDF). 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2019-11-11.


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