Minziro Forest Reserve

Minziro Forest Reserve
Burnt ecotone of Minziro Forest
Map showing the location of Minziro Forest Reserve
Location in Tanzania
Location Kagera Region, Tanzania
Nearest city Bukoba
Coordinates 01°06′21″S 31°30′58″E / 1.10583°S 31.51611°E / -1.10583; 31.51611Coordinates: 01°06′21″S 31°30′58″E / 1.10583°S 31.51611°E / -1.10583; 31.51611
Area 248.41 km2 (95.91 sq mi)

The Minziro (Nature) Forest Reserve is a 24,841 ha[1] conservation area in the Bukoba district of northwestern Tanzania. It protects one of the largest forests in Tanzania, of a forest type that is unique in the country. It was gazetted in 1947[1] and is situated at around 1,150 metres a.s.l.[2] in fairly level terrain. The forest is continuous with the Malabigambo Forest over the nearby Uganda border.[3] The largest part consists of Baikiaea–Podocarpus seasonal swamp forest[1] while the remainder is flooded acacia woodlands.

Wildlife

It is similar to forests found in the Congo and Guinea, and consequently it contains flora and fauna that reach their eastern range limits here.[3] 58 of the 245 bird species recorded in the reserve are not found outside Kagera in Tanzania, while 56 of these have only been seen in Minziro. In addition, more than 600 butterfly species are native here, surpassing any other forest in Africa.[3]

Threats

Satellite image of June 2004 showing wildfires in the vicinity of the forest (at center).

The forest was formerly extensively logged for the valuable Podocarpus trees, which are now scarce, with only small specimens remaining.[3] Illegal logging is ongoing.

Pastoralists have been entering the central grasslands illegally in search of grazing. They burn the grasslands which is detrimental to the over-wintering population of blue swallows, and also affects vegetation in the forest-grassland ecotone. In 2017 the Bukoba magistrate's court fined one trespassing pastoralist, and expressed dismay at the escalating damage to the environment.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Baker, Marc. "Birds of Minziro Forest Reserve, Bukoba District, north west Tanzania". Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "Minziro Forest Reserve". Birdlife Data Zone. Birdlife International. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Birding Minziro Forest Reserve". Bukoba Steve's Tanzania birding blog. December 5, 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  4. ↑ Mulisa, Meddy (14 April 2017). "Tanzania: Man Fined, Forfeits 30 Cattle to Govt for 'Illegal Entry'". allafrica.com. Tanzania Daily News. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
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