Arusha National Park and vicinity (6964)
Tanzania, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: B2

Year of last assessment: 2011

National site name: Arusha National Park and vicinity

Central coordinates: Latitude: -3.2580, Longitude: 36.7970

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 1400 to 4565

Area of KBA (km²): 423.23522

Protected area coverage (%): 95.49

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Arusha National Park covers the eastern portion of Mount Meru and extends 16 km to the east of the mountain. The site lies to the east of the Rift Valley and to the west of Mount Kilimanjaro (TZ003). The park encompasses a wide variety of habitats including montane forest similar to that on Mount Kilimanjaro, characterized by Diospyros abyssinica, Olea welwitschii, O. hochstetteri and O. africana, and several freshwater and alkaline lakes, ponds and swamps. The IBA also includes lower and mid-altitude forest lying outside the park in Forest Reserves.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. KBA identified in the process of compiling the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the East Afromontane Hotspot. Species taxonomy and threat category was based on IUCN Red List 2010-4. The site holds a significant population of the following plant species which, although not yet Red-List-assessed at the global level, are thought likely to be categorised as globally threatened once assessed (thus meeting the KBA Vulnerability criterion), based on existing regional or national Red List assessments (species also considered as site-endemic are tagged with Irr1 [KBA Irreplaceability 1 criterion]): Erucastrum meruense, Gymnosporia richardsiae.

Additional biodiversity: See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. The site is known to support at least 411 species, including Ardeola idae, as a non-breeding visitor in small numbers, and one species of the Serengeti plains EBA, as well as 11 species of the Somali–Masai biome (see Tables 2 and 3). The National Park is the only protected area utilized by the dwindling East African population of Oxyura maccoa which winters on the large alkaline lakes and breeds in the small, secluded freshwater ponds and swamps. The mountain streams hold Anas sparsa and the towering cliffs support a large population of Apus niansae and two pairs of Gypaetus barbatus. Apus horus and Merops bullockoides share nest-sites along the riverbanks, while the swamp on the floor of Ngurdoto Crater provides a safe nest-site for Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis. There are important populations of montane forest birds in the natural forest including Poicephalus gulielmi, Apaloderma vittatum and Linurgus olivaceus. Non-bird biodiversity: A population of Loxodonta africana (EN) occurs in the park, while Lycaon pictus (EN) is an occasional visitor. The commonest duiker in the forest is Cephalophus harveyi (LR/cd).

Delineation rationale: 2013-07-10 (BL Secretariat): following CEPF East Afromontane ecosystem profiling process, the original IBA area of 13,700 ha has been increased to the KBA area of 42,000 ha (as measured in GIS from latest boundary polygon, rounded to nearest 10%).

Habitats

Land use: forestry | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | water management

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	87
Shrubland	12

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Whilst natural forest inside the National Park is protected, forest areas in adjacent Forest Reserves are vulnerable to degradation and should be included within the boundaries of the National Park. The Momela lakes, on the edge of the National Park, are threatened by chemical run-off from nearby farms. This threat is likely to intensify as higher agricultural yields are required to meet the needs of a growing population.The National Park has a relatively small area and is becoming increasingly isolated as surrounding land is developed for agriculture. The long-term viability of this park, particularly for the majority of large mammals, would be enhanced by creating a corridor to the north–north-east linking it with the extensive areas of Acacia-dominated woodland which continue north to the Kenyan border and to the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Small-holder farming	Ongoing
Pollution	Agricultural & forestry effluents	Nutrient loads	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Wood & pulp plantations	Agro-industry plantations	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Marine & freshwater aquaculture	Subsistence/artisinal aquaculture	Only in the future
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Only in the past and unlikely to return
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Persecution/control	Only in the past and unlikely to return
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	Only in the past and unlikely to return
Biological resource use	Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources	Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Only in the past and unlikely to return
Biological resource use	Gathering terrestrial plants	Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	Only in the future
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Only in the future
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Increase in fire frequency/intensity	Only in the future
Natural system modifications	Dams & water management/use	Small dams	Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Unspecified species	Only in the future
Pollution	Domestic & urban waste water	Type Unknown/Unrecorded	Only in the past and unlikely to return
Pollution	Industrial & military effluents	Type Unknown/Unrecorded	Only in the past and unlikely to return
Pollution	Agricultural & forestry effluents	Type Unknown/Unrecorded	Only in the past and unlikely to return
Pollution	Air-borne pollutants	Type Unknown/Unrecorded	Only in the past and unlikely to return
Pollution	Excess energy	Noise pollution	Ongoing
Pollution	Excess energy	Thermal pollution	Only in the past and unlikely to return
Pollution	Excess energy	Light pollution	Only in the past and unlikely to return
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Commercial & industrial areas		Only in the past and unlikely to return
Residential & commercial development	Tourism & recreation areas		Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Oil & gas drilling		Only in the past and unlikely to return
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Only in the past and unlikely to return
Energy production & mining	Renewable energy		Only in the future
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	War, civil unrest & military exercises		Only in the past and unlikely to return
Pollution	Garbage & solid waste		Only in the past and unlikely to return
Geological events	Volcanoes		Only in the future
Climate change & severe weather	Habitat shifting & alteration		Only in the future
Climate change & severe weather	Droughts		Only in the future
Climate change & severe weather	Temperature extremes		Only in the future
Climate change & severe weather	Storms & flooding		Only in the future

Additional information