Concern as deforestation persists in Kahe forest reserve

Moshi. Kahe, a forest reserve near Moshi established to protect the water sources from Mt Kilimanjaro, is under threat.

The 1,095 hectare protected area is under siege from escalation of human activities largely for its timber resources.

Other dangers facing the riverine forests are fire outbreaks, firewood collectors and smallholder farmers.

"The survival of the forest is at stake. Something has to be done to protect it", said Ms Grace Shimwela, a forest conservation assistant.

Measures must be taken not only to enhance conservation but also to protect it from forest resource scavengers. Kahe nature reserve located on the lowlands south east of Moshi municipality is divided into two blocks. Block One covers a total of 886 ha while Block B sits on 209 ha; making a total of 1,095 ha for the entire forest.

Ms Shimwela said the situation was grim because of livestock grazing despite relentless efforts to deal with the problem.

According to her, at least 15 trespassers were apprehended inside the forest recently. They were using motorcycles, bicycles to ferry logs.

Also 12 bags of charcoal were found while several charcoal kilns for burning wood were found and destroyed. Several suspects were taken to court and fined, she said, adding that patrols have since then been enhanced at the area.

On her part, an official of the Tanzania Forest Service (TFS) Ms Zayana Mrisho warned against tree felling in the forest.

"We will have no mercy on people plundering our forest resources," she said, noting that the law is clear on such culprits.

Kahe forest reserve's total annual value of ecosystem services using global value estimation is $1.5 million and $6.3 million in 1998 and 2018 respectively.

An analysis of the spatial temporal changes in land use and land cover was done in Kahe forest and indicated increased deforestation.

For instance, while agricultural land increased by seven percent between 1998 and 2018, the forest area decreased from 85 percent to 51 percent during the same period due to escalation of human activities.

The underlying causes of the changes include rapid population growth, wild fires, climate change and general increase of human activities.

Experts have recommended that adoption of sustainable forest-management strategies such as enforcement of the existing conservation laws and regulations.

Other measures are enhanced alternative environment-friendly sources of livelihoods mainly those pertaining to community-based forest management.