Browsing by Author "Tabor, K."

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Deforestation and CO 2 emissions in coastal Tanzania from 1990 to 2007
(Foundation for Environmental Conservation, 2011) Godoy, F. L.; Tabor, K.; Burgess, N. D.; Mbilinyi, B. P.; Kashaigili, J. P.; Steininger, M. K.
Conversion of forest to other land uses is a major contributor to climate change. The coastal forests of Tanzania have increasingly been recognized as being of global biodiversity importance, due to high rates of species endemism. Rates of forest loss are similar to those of other tropical regions, resulting in increasing levels of threat for the biological values within the remaining forest and potentially significant source of CO 2 emissions. This study estimated the remaining cover and carbon stock of Tanzania’s coastal forests and the CO 2 emissions due to forest loss between c. 1990 and c. 2007. Coastal Tanzania contained over 273 700 ha of forest in 2007. Deforestation rates in the area have slowed from 1.0 % yr −1 , or > 3735 ha yr −1 during the 1990s, to 0.4 % yr −1 , or > 1233 ha yr −1 during 2000–2007. Despite lower deforestation rates in 2000–2007, the percentage forest lost from within reserved areas has remained steady at 0.2 % yr −1 for both time periods. CO 2 emissions from deforestation slowed from at least 0.63 Mt CO 2 yr −1 in 1990–2000 to at least 0.20 Mt CO 2 yr −1 in 2000–2007. Regional forest clearance in Tanzania is highly dynamic; while rates have slowed since 2000, forest habitat conversion has continued and there is no guarantee that future rates will remain low. A rigorous policy on reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) should be implemented to avoid future increases in deforestation rates.
Forest and woodland cover and change in coastal Tanzania and Kenya, 1990 to 2000
(Nature Kenya/East African Natural History Society, 2010) Tabor, K.; Burgess, N. D.; Mbilinyi, B. P.; Kashaigili, J. J.; Steininger, M. K.
Forest and woodland cover and change were calculated for the Zanzibar-Inhambane biogeographical region of Tanzania and Kenya from ~1990 to ~2000. A cover and change map was derived from high-resolution satellite imagery from Landsat and supplemental data from aerial overflights, field surveys, and local knowledge. Analyses showed that around 6820 km2 of coastal forest habitat remained in ~2000 (2260 km2 in Kenya and 4560 km2 in Tanzania). In terms of change, a total of 424 km2 (6%) of forest was cleared between ~1990 and ~2000; 53 km2 in Kenya and 371 km2 in Tanzania. Rates of forest loss were 8 times higher in unprotected areas than in protected sites such as Forest Reserves and National Parks. Key Biodiversity Areas had forest loss rates 2.5 times faster than protected areas while Alliance for Zero Extinction sites had the slowest rates of forest loss for the region. These baseline forest cover and change estimates along with future updates can contribute to national and sub-national carbon emission baselines and assessments of species threat within the global Red List.
Two decades of change in state, pressure and conservation responses in the coastal forest biodiversity hotspot of Tanzania
(Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK, 2016) Burgess, N. D.; Malugu, I.; Sumbi, P.; Kashindye, A.; Kijazi, A.; Tabor, K.; Mbilinyi, B. P.; Kashaigili, J. J.; Wright, T. M.; Gereau, R. E.; Coad, L.; Knights, K.; Carr, J.; Jeahrends, A.; Newh, R. L.
We present an analysis of changes of state, pres- sures and conservation responses over 20 years in the Tanzanian portion of the Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa biodiversity hotspot. Baseline data collected during 1989-1995 are compared with data from a synthesis of recently published papers and reports and new field work carried out across the region during 2010-2014. We show that bio- diversity endemism values are largely unchanged, although two new species (amphibian and mammal) have been named and two extremely rare tree species have been relo- cated. However, forest habitat continues to be lost and de- graded, largely as a result of agricultural expansion, charcoal production to supply cities with cooking fuel, log- ging for timber and cutting of wood for firewood and build- ing poles. Habitat loss is linked to an increase in the number of species threatened over time. The government-managed forest reserve network has expanded slightly but has low ef- fectiveness. Three forest reserves have been upgraded to National Parks and Nature Reserves, which have stricter protection and more effective enforcement. There has also been rapid development of village-owned forest reserves, with more than 140 now existing; although usually small, they are an important addition to the areas being managed for sustainable resource use, and also provide tangible benefits to local people. Human-use pressures remain in- tense in many areas, and combined with emerging pressures from mining, gas and oil exploration, many endemic species remain threatened with extinction.