The RSPB is the UK partner of the BirdLife International, we work with partner organisation on projects that make a real difference to bird conservation – Sarah Sanders, our RSPB head of partner development, has recently sent me an update from Tanzania.
I have done the 200km journey from Dar-es- Salaam numerous times but I never cease to be amazed by the Uluguru mountains. 60km from Morogoro you catch your first tantalising glimpse as the Ulugurus emerge from the flat plain. Rising to over 2600m, the forested tops are rarely in view, usually covered by cloud.
Part of the Eastern Arc Chain, these are mountain islands, home to many plants and animals which are found nowhere else in the world including the critically endangered Uluguru bush shrike. They are also the main source of water for Dar.
So why am I here? The Ulugurus are facing an increased demand for fuelwood from a growing poor population – this is putting this unique environment under threat.
Unsustainable farming practices are spreading up the steep mountain slopes causing soil erosion and a deterioration in water quality and quantity. With UK Aid funding, we are working with our BirdLife partner, the Wildlife Conservation Society Tanzania, to support communities to reduce their dependency on the forest by developing woodlots outside the forest for fuelwood and to encourage the use of fuel efficient stoves. We are also supporting alternative livelihoods like bee-keeping and vegetable gardening.
In the next couple of days, Rose Kyando, the project manager and I will be visiting some of the villages to see how these activities are progressing. Some of these communities are only accessible by foot. As there has been a lot of rain in the last month so it is going to be very muddy.
More from Sarah shortly.
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