Protecting the tallest trees of Africa
The tallest trees of Africa were found in a submontane valley on the southern slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro. This valley is a small remain of the once large forest belt now heavily impacted by logging and grazing of lifestock. In the frame of the KiLi Project, finanzed by the German Research Foundation (DFG), a watchman is paid to report on illegal activities. Since 2010 further logging could thus be prevented.
Link to original publication:
Africa’s highest mountain harbours Africa’s tallest trees
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10531-016-1226-3
Planting indigenous trees
We collect seeds of indigenous trees, raise them in our tree nurseries and plant them in deforested areas around Kilimanjaro. We especially focus on endangered tree species, e.g. the critically endangered Garcinia tanzaniensis growing the same river gorge as Africa´s tallest trees, Entandrophragma excelsum.
Raising awareness
We explain to politicians, church leaders and Tanzanian authorities how important it is to protect Tanzanian forests as unique hotspots of biodiversity and endemism. We point out that planting indigenous trees provides not only very valuable timber but is also good for the environment in difference to introduced species that have a higher water demand, are more sensible to diseases and do not support indigenous wildlife.
Supporting science
We offer logistical support for Tanzanian and foreign scientists coming to perform research in Tanzania. We have two scientific stations that can accomodate more than 20 researchers. We can help with obtaining necessary research permits.
We logistically support the KiLi Project.
Conserving endangered tree species
The tree species Oxystigma msoo occurs in Tanzania only in two forest remains on the southern slopes of Kilimanjaro. All in all only about 60 specimens still exist, 4 adult trees in Kahe forest – a forest reserve almost gone now – and the remaining specimens in the Rau Forest Reserve near Moshi. Since Oxystigma msoo, a tall tree of over 50 m when fully grown, has valuable timber it is almost extinct now. We collected seeds in 2016 and were able to raise about 100 young trees, These were planted in riverine forest of the TPC sugar plantation Moshi and some other places in suitable habitat.