TFCG, West Usambara Forest Conservation Project


	Site Details
	Location: West Usambara Mountains, Korogwe and Lushoto Districts, Tanga Region. Area: Scope of project covers 11,500 ha of submontane rain forest. Biodiversity: At least 32 Eastern Arc endemic vertebrate species including two species listed as Endangered by IUCN Status: Threatened by illegal timber harvesting, fire and agricultural encroachment.

	Boundary of Ambangulu Forest and tea plantation.
	Village meeting at Sagara Forest.
	Ambangulu training session.
	Reed frog in Ambangulu Forest.

West Usambara Forest Conservation Project

The West Usambara Mountain forests extend over 32,000 ha between an altitude of 400 - 2290 m in North East Tanzania. The forests are home to five vertebrate species found nowhere else in the world including the Endangered Usambara akalat and the frog Nectophrynoides vestergaardi. The West Usambara landscape is a mosaic of forest, tea plantation, horticulture and subsistence agriculture. Pressure on the forest is high and at least 10 % of the forest was cleared between 1970 and 2000.

By working closely with the local communities, tea estates and local government, TFCG has succeeded in significantly reducing illegal logging and forest clearance in key forests such as Ambangulu, Sagara and Kisima Gonja. TFCG has also assisted 12 communities to develop village forest reserves thereby preventing important forests on village land from being cleared for agriculture and protecting water sources crucial to many community members.

As well as ensuring better forest management, TFCG has worked closely with communities to reduce dependence on illegal harvesting in the forest reserves. This has included promoting fuel efficient stoves to reduce demand for fuel wood as well as widespread tree planting with approximately half a million trees being planted with support from TFCG every year. These trees provide fuel wood, building materials and a cash income to farmers.

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