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We present an analysis of changes of state, pres-
sures and conservation responses over 20 years in the
Tanzanian portion of the Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa
biodiversity hotspot. Baseline data collected during 1989-1995 are compared with data from a synthesis of recently
published papers and reports and new field work carried
out across the region during 2010-2014. We show that bio-
diversity endemism values are largely unchanged, although
two new species (amphibian and mammal) have been
named and two extremely rare tree species have been relo-
cated. However, forest habitat continues to be lost and de-
graded, largely as a result of agricultural expansion,
charcoal production to supply cities with cooking fuel, log-
ging for timber and cutting of wood for firewood and build-
ing poles. Habitat loss is linked to an increase in the number
of species threatened over time. The government-managed
forest reserve network has expanded slightly but has low ef-
fectiveness. Three forest reserves have been upgraded to
National Parks and Nature Reserves, which have stricter
protection and more effective enforcement. There has also
been rapid development of village-owned forest reserves,
with more than 140 now existing; although usually small,
they are an important addition to the areas being managed
for sustainable resource use, and also provide tangible benefits to local people. Human-use pressures remain in-
tense in many areas, and combined with emerging pressures
from mining, gas and oil exploration, many endemic species
remain threatened with extinction. |
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