Marc Baker Safaris

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  • 7.1: Publications
  • 7.2: Baker 2008
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  • 7.5: Baker 2005-2
  • 7.6: Baker 2004
  • 7.7: Baker 2002-1
  • 7.8: Baker 2002-2
  • 7.9: Baker 2001-1
  • 7.10: Baker 2001-2
  • 7.11: Baker 2000

Baker 2000

A Survey of the Avifauna found within the isolated montane forest reserves of Monduli District. UNDP/GEF/FAO, Arusha Tanzania

Tanzania has one of the most diverse avifaunas in the world, with 1107 species (January 2001 figure) (Toro – Olive Greenbul and Yellow-crested Woodpecker added July 2000) and second only to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. Within Tanzania there are 36 shadow RAMSAR sites and 77 Important Bird Areas, 4 of which are in Monduli District. However Tanzania also has a 2.8% overall population growth, a population of 38 million, set to double in the next 18 years. To balance the demand on water and other natural resources in this district, as well as the country as a whole, is indeed a challenge to politicians, scientists and conservation bodies alike.

The aims of the survey were to determine the avifauna found on Meto hill forest and Monduli, Burko, Losiminguri, Longido and Kitumbeine Forest Reserves, all of which are in the political boundary of Monduli district. To establish this baseline data, a series of techniques were employed. Mist netting and direct observation were carried out within all of the forest reserves. Due to the results of the initial survey, a second visit to Kitumbeine Forest Reserve was carried out.

A total of 230 bird species were recorded within the six montane forests surveyed. Of those, 62 species were forest dependent (FD)(27%). Of the 62 forest dependent species, 28 occurred in 50% (3) or more of the forests surveyed. The highest numbers of forest dependent species were recorded in Kitumbeine FR (45) and Losiminguri FR (39), 73% and 63% of the total 62 FD species recorded. In addition to this, several species of conservation importance and species with a restricted range in Tanzania, such as Red-fronted Parrot and Purple-throated Cuckoo Shrike, were found in Kitumbeine Forest Reserve.

As conservation resources are limited and the need to define clear goals imperative, I recommend that the project continues to address the problems on all sites however, resources should be concentrated on Kitumbeine FR and Losiminguri FR. Both of these reserves are greater in size (Kitumbeine: 12,991ha, Losiminguri: 6,070 ha) and have a greater diversity of avifauna. This may be reflected in other taxa and thus future survey work should be concentrated at these sites.

All of these forest reserves are vital to local people as well as other flora and fauna. The water catchment value itself should be enough to concentrate resources on these forests, yet combined with other sustainable forest resources their protection is all the more important.