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Destruction of the Usambara Tropical Forest is of major concern because the forest is very rich in biological diversity hence tourism. By the way, the Usambara Tropical Forest forms part of the Eastern Arch Mountains which like Ngorongoro Conservation Area the Mountains are listed as a World Heritage Site.

It has been reported recently that Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) which manages Ngorongoro Conservation Area is making progress to address the conservation challenges that threaten integrity of nature hence tourism in the area. Like Ngorongoro, Amani Forest near Tanga is well managed and it forms the East Usambara Tropical Forest. But the same cannot be said about the management of Magamba Forest Reserve which forms the West Usambara Tropical Forest.

Magamba Forest is managed as a Forest Reserve for Catchment purposes while Amani is categorized as Nature Forest Reserve. The natural status of Amani Nature Reserve influences some conservationists to believe that the conservation challenges facing Magamba Forest in the West Usambaras can be addressed effectively if the forest is categorized and managed as a nature reserve like the Amani Forest in the East. The National Forest Policy, 1998 describes catchment forest as part of a 'Forest reserve'. The Policy defines Forest Reserve as "a forest area, either for production of timber and other forest produce or protective for the protection of forests and important water catchments." Meanwhile, the Policy defines Nature Reserve as "a forest reserve legally declared for conservation of nature, genetic resources and for scientific studies."

As a follow-up on the proposal to re-categorize the Magamba Catchment Forest, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has requested conservationists to prepare a plan that will serve as a guide to manage the forest accordingly. The Ministry also intended to use the document to convince government to set aside funds during the 2009/2010 financial year to manage the forest as proposed. A draft management plan has been prepared and submitted to government. But the government has declined to honour the proposal on grounds that funds are not available this financial year.

Actually there is reason to believe that government would not provide substantial financial support to manage the Magamba Forest as nature reserve even if funds were available. Government would not provide such funds because the draft management plan arguably does not provide adequate facts to justify re-categorization of the forest reserve.

Therefore, although many people would support the proposal to improve management of Magamba Forest to conserve the uniqueness and biodiversity of the area, facts are needed to enhance the argument that the nature reserve status is the best approach for the purpose.

For instance, the draft management plan ought to explain convincingly why in the first place a management plan for the forest is now needed. Apparently, the forest has been managed for 67 years since 1942 without a management plan. The draft plan only states that the Forest Act, 2002 requires management plans to be developed as guidelines for managing forests in the country. According to the draft plan many other natural forests in Tanzania are managed without proper or approved forest management plans. The effect of managing a resource without management plan is anybody's guess.

The draft management plan ought to convince authorities from many other perspectives. For example, the plan has to provide facts to convince authorities that the Magamba Forest would be a better tool for poverty reduction if it becomes a nature reserve. This is in view of the fact that, a nature reserve status for the forest would advocate for non-consumptive utilization of forest resources thereby somewhat inhibiting communities from benefiting directly from the resources in the reserve.

Said differently, conservationists have to convince authorities in government that non-consumptive uses of forest resources contribute better to poverty reduction. In particular, conservationists have to prove that non-consumptive uses of forest resources such as beekeeping, eco-tourism and non-wood based industry and products are more beneficial to communities than uses such as wood-based activities like wood fuel or carving.

Clearly, the draft management plan is based on scant information of the area implying that inadequate systematic studies have been carried out on the socio-economic activities, inventory and biodiversity of the area. As a result, important techniques to manage the forest cannot be applied effectively. For instance, zoning of resources cannot be applied in the forest. Zoning is a resource management technique used to prescribe appropriate management or utilization practices such as eco-tourism to a suitable part or zone of the forest. On the other hand, management may assign a zone for research purposes only. Eco-tourism may be prohibited in that zone or part of the forest.

Human population put substantial pressure on Magamba Forest. The pressure threatens to destroy the rich biodiversity of the Forest thereby slowing down the flourishing tourism in the area which depends on the resource. Urgent support in the form of studies and planning is needed to avoid irreversible destruction of biodiversity in the forest. Universities and research institutions can take the opportunity to request management of Magamba Forest to carry out applied studies and research to contribute in developing a proper management plan for the Forest. Meanwhile, the management of Magamba Forest can start talking to the administration at the Sebastian Koloa University College (SEKUCO) on the matter. SEKUCO is located adjacent to the Forest. The University has introduced courses on ecology recently.

Source: AllAfrica