The conservation of the forest resources of eastern Africa: past influences, present practices and future needs - Biogeography and Ecology of the Rain Forests of Eastern Africa - page 309

Hedberg (1979) includes smaller plants, but there
is little knowledge of their distribution pattern
(see Hamilton & Bensted-Smith, 1990, for pre-
liminary data on major species). Past attempts to
suggest key forest areas for plant species con-
servaion in the Usambara failed owing to an
inadequate data base (W.A.R., personal observa-
tions). Finnmap-Silvestre (1988) map density
distribuions for 11 commercial tree species in
East Usambara and roughly map the collecive
concentraion of endemic and near endemic ree
species; this is a useful start. Hamilton & Ben-
sted-Smith (1990) extend the data base consider-
ably. Beentje (l 988b) gives detailed distribuions
for some 90 Kenyan forest tree species.
The soluion is obvious. A much greater invest-
ment into simple inventory and descripion of the
forest resource, with equal interest in biological
and commercial values, is required. Recent flor-
isic and ecological surveys of areas such as Pugu
(Hawthone, 1984), Mazumbai (Hall, 1985) and
Kimboza (Rodgers et a., 1983) describe realisic
methodologies for plants. Surveys such as those of
Stuart (1981) for birds, Kielland (1983) for
Lepidoptera and Rodgers (1981) for colobus
monkeys illustrate what can be done for animals.
Elringham (1980), in a comprehensive review
of wildlife (not forest!) research needs for
Tanzania, sressed the need or greatly increased
inputs into applied and biological values of natural
forests and their wildlife. He advocated an Usam-
bara Wildlife Research Centre, with studies on
people, forest and animal ecology. The import-
ance of environmental monitoring and audit (a
full evaluaion) is increasingly recognised. A
thorough review is given by Howlett (1991).
The last few years, however, have seen an
increase in the quantum of research into East
Africa's natural forests. Recent studies, by
Kigomo et al. (1990) into regeneraion pattens of
the Nairobi Brachyna forest and Tsingalia
(1990) into Kakamega gap recolonisaion, are
good Kenya examples.

objecives; objecives both for the resource itself
and the peripheral human populaions. These
objectives and the ensuing prescriptions should
be contained within properly prepared manage-
ment plans (MacKinnon et al., 1986). Planning
must take into account the human component and
their needs of forest based resources; see Saharia
(1985) for a discussion on the Indian eperience.
The inherent incompaibiliy between strict
conservaion needs and resource exploitaion can
be overcome by spaial separaion of land use
practices, through zoning. This was initially
attempted by a separaion into catchment and
producion forest reserves, but zonaion should go
much further. Zonaion is not a new concept for
East African conservaion, possibly being first
suggested by Lambrecht (1966) and more
recently elaborated by Lusigi (1985). It has been
attempted on a larger scale in the Ngorongoro
Conservation Area and in Amboseli National
Park, but scarcely tried within a forest environ-
ment. Howard (1991) describes a detailed zona-
tion plan for Ugandan Forests. The Ugandan
Forest Deparment has proposed that at least
20% of all forest would be non-eploited forest
reserve, a further 30% would be buffer zone with
light exploitaion and 50% would be for com-
mercial use.
In 1991 Tanzanian foresters approved a zona-
ion plan giving four principal zones. These are as
follows:

Management Zonaion System for Catchment
Forest Reserves in Tanzania.
Catchment Zone.
Aims: The Catchment zone eists to protect the
natural catchment values of the forest, and
to prevent erosion. The zone is defined by
the criteria of slope and hydrology: all
slopes >40% and areas 50 metres either
side of streams and upper catchments by
watershed ridges are so included.
Management: There will be no eploitaion or
disturbance to natural vegetaion.
Biodiversity Zone.
Aims: The zone is to protect areas of high
biodiversity and migratory routes [this may

Deiding land use objectives and wnation

Successful resource conservaion and manage-
ment is dependent on the formulaion of realisic