Amani Nature Reserve
Amani Forest Reserve | |
---|---|
Nearest city | Muheza |
Coordinates | 5°05′S 38°40′E / 5.083°S 38.667°E |
Area | 83.04 km2 (32.06 sq mi) |
Designation | Nature Forest Reserve |
Established | 1997 |
Named for | Amani means Peace in Swahili |
Governing body | Tanzania Forest Service Agency (TFS) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism |
Website | Official Page |
The Amani Forest Reserve, officially listed as Amani Nature Forest Reserve (Msitu wa Akiba wa Amani, In
Amani is home to
History
The Amani Nature Reserve was established in 1997 in a forested area in the East Usambara Mountains with an area of 83.8 km2 (32 sq mi), including the Amani Botanical Garden of 3 km2 (1.2 sq mi) and a further 10.7 km2 (4.1 sq mi) of forest managed by local tea estates. Traditionally, people living in villages adjacent to the reserve have used the forest as a source of timber, firewood and medicinal plants, a place to gather plants, bush meat, honey and fruit for consumption and a source of live birds, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates for international trade.[3][4]
Flora
The forests in the reserve have been described as intermediate evergreen forests or submontane evergreen forest, a type of vegetative cover that tends to grow on the seaward side of both the West and East Usambaras. The dominant trees are
A growing problem in the area is the presence of the invasive West African tree
Fauna
The fauna of the Usambara Mountains has been compared to that of the Galápagos Islands in terms of its richness and biological importance. The area of the Amani Nature Reserve is better studied than many other parts of the range with numerous endemic invertebrates dependent on the native moist forest cover including mites, spiders, freshwater crabs, dragonflies, beetles, butterflies, millipedes and molluscs.[7]
There are few large mammals in the reserve. Duiker and bushpig are plentiful and there are two species of monkey, but the elephants and leopards that used to inhabit the area are no longer present.[5] The elusive long-billed forest warbler (Artisornis moreaui) is known from the reserve and from one other locality, Mount Namuli in northern Mozambique, 1,000 km (600 mi) away.[8][9]
Some of the endemic animals are named after the mountains in which the nature reserve is set, and these include the Usambara weaver (Ploceus nicolli), Usambara akalat, Usambara hyliota (Hyliota usambara) and the Usambara eagle-owl (Bubo vosseleri). Others are named after the reserve, and these include the Amani sunbird (Hedydipna pallidigaster) and the Amani tailorbird. There are also endemic tree frogs and chameleons unique to the area.[10]
Amani Hill Research Station
Founded in 1902, after World War II the scientific station became famous for its research into malaria. Since the 1970s the laboratory has remained largely unchanged with the specimens and instruments of a long gone by era. As of 2017 the station receives few visitors and the thirty-four staff maintain the entomological collection continuing to add butterflies and other insects.[11]
Attractions
The reserve is endowed with a variety of tourist attractions in addition to Saintpaulia flowers, including endemic species of flora and animals, Unique biodiversity, natural features, and historical and cultural attractions. The reserve is renowned for its diverse bird and butterfly species.[12]
See also
References
- ^ "Amani Nature Forest Reserve". Tanzania Forest Service Agency.
- ^ "Amani Nature Forest Reserve". Tanzania Forest Service Agency.
- ISBN 978-1-84369-215-7.
- ^ Mpanda, Mathew M., et al. "Impact of forestland tenure changes on forest cover, stocking and tree species diversity in Amani Nature Reserve, Tanzania." Forests, Trees and Livelihoods 20.4 (2011): 215-229.
- ^ ISBN 978-2-88032-965-5.
- ISBN 978-2-88032-965-5.
- ISBN 978-2-88032-965-5.
- . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-84162-292-7.
- ^ "Amani Nature Reserve". Amani Forest Camp. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- ^ Whyte, Chelsea (27 May 2017). "Aperture – Reaching into the past". New Scientist. No. 3127. pp. 26–7.
- ^ Scurrah-Ehrhart, Cecilia, and Tom Blomley. "Amani butterfly forest-based enterprise, Tanga, Tanzania." Rights and Resources, unpublished paper (2006).