🌳 Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa
Coastal forests support endangered species such as the Rondo Dwarf Galago and African Savannah Elephant, alongside threatened plants unique to the Noto Plateau and Chitoa Forest Reserves the largest remaining coastal forest blocks in the project's landscape.
⛰️ Eastern Arc Montane Forests
Montane forests in the Eastern Arc Mountains are globally significant for biodiversity and endemism. In the VCSL project area, sites such as Ilole Forest, and the buffers of Udzungwa National Park (NP) and Ukwiva Forest Reserve (FR) support endangered species like Abbott’s Duiker and provide critical water catchment and refuge functions.
🌿 Miombo Woodlands
Miombo woodlands dominate the VCSL project area, supporting wildlife such as African Savannah Elephants and maintaining key ecological connectivity. Key areas include Angai Community Forest and the Msanjesi Corridor, which also sustain community livelihoods.
Forest loss of up to 67% over 42 years (including ~75% in coastal forests) would severely reduce habitat. Combined with fire and agricultural expansion, this would increase climate stress and significantly raise the risk of local species extinction.
- Paragalago rondoensis
- Paragalago orinus
- Afrixalus uluguruensis
- Buhoma procterae
By preventing deforestation and managing fire, the project maintains critical forest habitats, reduces local temperature extremes, and enhances ecosystem resilience—resulting in a strong net positive impact on biodiversity.
- Paragalago rondoensis
- Paragalago orinus
- Leptactina papyrophloea
- Terminalia apetala
Some species increase due to targeted interventions such as anti-poaching and reduced human-wildlife conflict.
- Cephalophus spadix
- Loxodonta africana
- Lycaon pictus
The VCSL's project protects High Conservation Value (HCV) forest ecosystems by significantly reducing deforestation across priority landscapes.
| Area | Forest Type | Baseline (ha) | Observed (ha) | Reduced (ha) | % Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chitoa FR buffer | Coastal | 129.8 | 21.7 | 108.1 | 83.3% |
| Ilole Forest | Montane | 0.9 | 2.7 | -1.8 | -200% |
| Lionja FR buffer | Miombo | 56.1 | 11.6 | 44.6 | 79.5% |
| Litipo FR buffer | Mixed | 41 | 8.8 | 32.2 | 78.5% |
| Matapwa FR buffer | Miombo | 38.2 | 18.4 | 19.7 | 51.6% |
| Mikumi buffer | Miombo | 245.2 | 29.9 | 215.4 | 87.8% |
| Mkulazi buffer | Miombo | 64 | 29.7 | 34.3 | 53.6% |
| Msanjesi Corridor | Miombo | 110.1 | 69.5 | 40.6 | 36.9% |
| Msanjesi GM buffer | Miombo | 148.8 | 8.9 | 139.9 | 94.0% |
| Noto Plateau | Coastal | 147.1 | 0.4 | 146.8 | 99.8% |
| Rondo NR buffer | Coastal | 124.3 | 14.4 | 109.9 | 88.4% |
| Udzungwa buffer | Miombo | 7.2 | 0 | 7.2 | 100% |
| Ukwiva FR buffer | Montane | 26.8 | 3.8 | 23.1 | 86.2% |
Monitoring results show a 92% reduction in deforestation in key habitats and continued presence of priority species, including confirmed Rondo dwarf galago populations and frequent elephant sightings across the project landscape. These results indicate effective habitat protection and positive biodiversity outcomes.
| Biodiversity Variable | Location | Project Actions | Monitoring Method | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rondo Dwarf Galago | Noto Plateau | 11 patrols, disturbance checks | Acoustic monitoring + night surveys | 92% deforestation reduction; species confirmed present |
| Elephants | Project-wide | Boundary clearing + patrols | Opportunistic observations | Frequent sightings across key areas |
| Abbott’s Duiker | Ilole Forest | VLFR patrols | Dung records | No survey this period; monitoring ongoing |
| Wild Dogs | Mikumi & Msanjesi | Patrols + community reports | Sightings & indirect signs | No sightings; monitoring to be expanded |
| Poaching | All HCV areas | 3,741 patrol records | Snare removal & encounters | Active enforcement; no quantified trend yet |
| Amphibians & Plants | Ilole & Lindi VLFRs | Patrols ongoing | Future surveys (2025/26) | Likely persistence; verification planned |
