Jozani Forest (7020)
Tanzania, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1e

Year of last assessment: 2018

National site name: Jozani Forest

Central coordinates: Latitude: -6.5500, Longitude: 39.2167

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 20

Area of KBA (km²): 66.99309

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Jozani Forest Reserve is the only remaining forest left on Unguja, the main island of Zanzibar. It is a small, much modified groundwater-forest, which includes a 12 ha plantation. Some tree species, such as Calyophyllum inophyllum, initially thought to have been introduced, are now believed to be indigenous. Even in heavily exploited areas a variety of tree species still occur and are regenerating. There has been no commercial exploitation of Jozani since 1990.

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. Alliance for Zero Extinction (2018): site confirmed as an AZE site during the AZE project (2015-2018). Taxonomy, nomenclature and Red List category follow the IUCN 2016 Red List.

Additional biodiversity: See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. The annotated checklist for Zanzibar lists 217 species. All forest species known for Unguja occur at Jozani as it holds virtually all the remaining forest habitat on the island. Birds include three endemic races: Tauraco fischeri zanzibaricus, Andropadus virens zanzibaricus and Nectarinia veroxii zanzibarica. A fourth, Nectarinia olivacea granti, is shared only with Pemba island and a fifth, Cercotrichas quadrivrigata greenwayi, is shared with Mafia island. Non-bird biodiversity: The primate Colobus badius kirkii (EN) is endemic to the island and 30% of the total population of 2,400 is centred on Jozani Forest, which must be considered essential to its long-term survival. The near-endemic ungulate Cephalophus adersi (EN) has its stronghold on Unguja with a population estimated at below 2,000, in five fragmented sub-populations, including one at Jozani.

Delineation rationale: The KBA includes the 2010 AZE 'Jozani-Chwaka Bay'. 2009-10-01 (Leanne Miller): Per instructions from D. Knox in October 2009, the neighbouring KBA Zanzibar (Kituani) (SitRecID 22419) has been merged into this site.

Habitats

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

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Jozani Forest Reserve is a small site, the long-term viability of which must be in some doubt. During the past decade, however, there has been a growing environmental awareness within Zanzibar, which is being translated into action in conserving such habitats as Jozani, which is a popular tourist destination. In 1995 an integrated development and conservation project was initiated at the forest with the aim of creating a community-supported protected area. Hunting has been a major problem and continues to threaten the population of Cephalophus adersi.

Additional information