Uluguru Mountains (7031)
Tanzania, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1e, B2
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Uluguru Mountains
Central coordinates: Latitude: -7.0269, Longitude: 37.7256
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Area of KBA (km2): 361.06005
Protected area coverage (%): 89.51
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Uluguru mountains rise abruptly out of the coastal plain at 300 m and run north–south. Except for the boggy grassland of Lukwangule plateau, they are characterized by many steep, forested peaks, with four distinct forest zones: lowland semi-evergreen forest; submontane evergreen and semi-evergreen forest, found mainly on the eastern side of the mountain; montane evergreen forest, which is found in a broad belt around the mountain; and an upper montane or lower subalpine zone which occurs above 2,100 m in Uluguru North and above 2,400 m in Uluguru South. Submontane to upper montane forest is now found almost exclusively in the smaller Uluguru North Catchment Forest Reserve (CFR) (8,356 ha), which is separated from the Uluguru South CFR (17,292 ha) by the Bunduki depression. The lower edge of the forest lies variously between 1,000 and 2,000 m elevation, with a few narrow strips down to 650 m. Forest once extended lower, but large areas have been converted to agriculture. Lowland forest at c.300 m remains only on the eastern face of the mountains in the Mkungwe (1,967 ha), Kimboza (405 ha), and Ruvu (3,093 ha) Forest Reserves (each of which is included in the IBA), and in a few other small patches. In most areas, subsistence agriculture is now carried out right up to the edge of the Forest Reserves, and a few small encroachments have been noted above Morogoro. The forests of the Uluguru mountains form the main catchment for the Ruvu river, the water-supply for Dar es Salaam.The Ulugurus are somewhat isolated and lie to the north-east of the Udzungwas (TZ066) and Uvidundas (TZ072) ranges and to the east of the Rubeho (TZ064) and Ukagurus (TZ067). This isolation is tempered by remnant forest on Nguru ya Ndege, a tiny peak (1,357 m) 20 km to the north-west and Malundwe mountain (1,200 m) within Mikumi National Park midway between the Ulugurus and the Uvidundas. Very little forest remains outside the Forest Reserves and the protected forests face increasing human pressure. Felling trees (legally and illegally) for timber, firewood and building poles occurs in the reserves, but at a lower rate than in the remaining ungazetted forest. Uncontrolled fires are a regular feature of some areas. Clearance of the remaining ungazetted forest for subsistence and cash-crop cultivation is a major concern, and the little forest that remains outside the reserves is being rapidly removed. In some areas (those with access to roads) commercial farming has developed to supply the markets of Dar es Salaam and Morogoro with fruit and vegetables. A major conservation initiative is under way, undertaken by a consortium of Governmental and non-governmental organizations, led by the BirdLife International Partners in Tanzania and Denmark, and funded by DANIDA.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site contains the entire known populations of five amphibians (Nectophrynoides cryptus, Nectophrynoides minutus, Nectophrynoides pseudotornieri, Probreviceps uluguruensis, and Scolecomorphus uluguruensis), two birds (Cinnyris loveridgei and Malaconotus alius), and one mammal (Myosorex geata). Additionally, five birds meet B2 and an additional eight amphibians, 37 birds, two mammals, and 96 plants meet legacy KBA criteria and are in need of reassessment.
Manageability of the site: Over 3/4 of this site is covered by a series of Forest Reserves.
Delineation rationale: Site was identified as a KBA in 2001 and as an AZE during the 2015-2018 AZE project. A delineation rationale is not available.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 95 | |
| Shrubland | 4 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Only in the future |