Hudson Christopher Laizer
Other projects
5 Sep 2018
Restoration of Degraded Habitats of Mount Loleza Forest Reserve to Enhance Conservation of Ecosystem Services and Birds Population through Community Empowerment
18 Apr 2023
Saving the Wild Pollinators from the Local Extinction: Promoting the Conservation of Beneficial Insects and Bird Species in Mbeya Range Forest Reserve
Mount Loleza Forest Reserve (MLFR) is among the ecological potential areas with diverse flora and fauna offering ecosystem services to the local communities around. However, the MLFR is currently under threat due to the ongoing deforestation and agricultural activities. These two plus other human induced disturbances have caused a near extinct of Blue swallow bird species (Hirundo atrocaerulea) and some plant species with medicinal values. There is a need to provide conservation education, trainings and environmentally friendly income generating activities to the local communities around so as to reduce over dependence and pressure on the MLFR
The Mount Loleza Forest Reserve (MLFR) is among the potential ecological areas in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. The communities around have been benefiting from the diverse of ecosystem services offered by the MLFR in supporting their livelihood. However due to deforestation, agriculture, and other ongoing activities, the resilience of these ecosystem services is at stake. The current management strategies and conservation efforts in the MLFR does not show promising results. There is a need to educate the communities around on the importance of conserving the MLFR.
Therefore, this study aims at:
(i)assessing all the activities threatening the ecosystem health and services in the MLFR,
(ii)providing conservation education and trainings to the local communities around and adjacent to the MLFR,
(iii) supporting the environmental friendly activities such as tree plantation and bee keeping that will help to reduce pressure and over dependence of the natural resources from the MLFR.