The natural forests and environmental conservation in the southern highlands of Tanzania
Munishi, P.K.T|Temu, R.P.C / 1992

All over the world, the importance of natural forests to people and to all living organisms is increasingly being recognized. Among one of their most important roles is the contribution of forests to environmental conservation. The natural forests of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania play a significant part in the conservation of soil and water resources, the amelioration of the micro and macroclimate, and the conservation of the fauna and flora. The major threats to natural forests and the environment in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania include the interrelated problems of deforestation, bus fires, overgrazing, soil erosion, and watershed degradation, which results in population, sedimentation of dams, and floods. The effects of all these have been a loss of soil fertility and a dimininution of the productivity of the land in terms of agricultural production. Several remedial measures have been undertaken, including the prevention of deforestation, tree planting, the creation of increased public awareness of the problems (for example, of the damage caused by fire), pasture establishment or improvement to reduce overgrazing, conservation of water resources and prevention of soil erosion by contouring. Few of these measures have so far achieved much success. More effort is therefore needed to encourage the conservation of the Southern Highland’s forests. This should include prevention of shifting cultivation, use of coal instead of wood fuel, enrichment planting using appropriate indigenous tree spices, law enforcement and various forms of agroforestry. The support of the extension services, the integration of land use activities and the involvement of the people are all important if conservation is to be a success.