Minziro Forest Reserve
| Minziro Forest Reserve | |
|---|---|
 Burntecotoneof Minziro Forest | |
  Location in Tanzania | |
| Location | Missenyi District,Kagera Region,Tanzania |
| Nearest city | Bukoba |
| Coordinates | 01°06′21″S31°30′58″E/ 1.10583°S 31.51611°E |
| Area | 248.41 km2(95.91 sq mi) |
TheMinziro (Nature) Forest Reserveis a 24,841 ha (95.91 sq mi)[1]conservation area along theKagera RiverinBukobadistrict 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 an elevation of around 1,150 m (3,770 ft).[2]in fairly level terrain. The forest is continuous with theMalabigambo Forestover the nearby Uganda border.[3]The largest part consists ofBaikiaea–Podocarpusseasonal swamp forests[1]while the remainder is flooded acacia woodlands.
Wildlife
[edit]The Minziro Forest 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]
Characteristic trees of swamp forests includeAfrocarpus dawei,Heywoodia lucens,Mussaenda erythrophylla,Cassipourea ruwensorensis,Citropsis articulata,Manilkara obvata,Baikiaea insignis,andUncaria africana.[4]
58 of the 245 bird species recorded in the reserve are not found outsideKagerain 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
[edit]
The forest was formerly extensively logged for the valuableAfrocarpus daweitrees, which are now scarce, with only small specimens remaining.[3]Illegal loggingis ongoing.
Pastoralistshave been entering the central grasslands illegally in search of grazing. They burn the grasslands which is detrimental to the over-wintering population ofblue swallows,and also affects vegetation in the forest-grassland ecotone. In 2017 theBukobamagistrate's courtfined one trespassing pastoralist, and expressed dismay at the escalating damage to the environment.[5]
References
[edit]
- ^abcBaker, Marc."Birds of Minziro Forest Reserve, Missenyi District, north west Tanzania".Retrieved6 December2013.
- ^"Minziro Forest Reserve".Birdlife Data Zone.Birdlife International.Retrieved6 December2013.
- ^abcd"Birding Minziro Forest Reserve".Bukoba Steve's Tanzania birding blog.December 5, 2010.Retrieved6 December2013.
- ^Kamukala, G. L., and S. A. Crafter, eds. (1993). "Wetlands of Tanzania: Proceedings of a Seminar on the Wetlands of Tanzania, Morogoro, Tanzania, 27-29 November, 1991". Volume 10 of The IUCN Wetlands Programme. IUCN, 1993.
- ^Mulisa, Meddy (14 April 2017)."Tanzania: Man Fined, Forfeits 30 Cattle to Govt for 'Illegal Entry'".allafrica.com. Tanzania Daily News.Retrieved16 April2017.