From the report some statistics on Tanzania Bio-diversity

More than a quarter of the 10 000 plant species recorded in the country is endemic. There is also a large number of endemic animal species in Tanzania.

It is estimated that about 300 000 to 400 000 hectares of forest are lost annually in Tanzania through deforestation. However, recent figures by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations) cite 130 000- 140 000 hectares per year as more realistic. Despite the lower rate, it is still alarming. The major causes of deforestation are fires, poor agricultural practices, overgrazing, clear felling of trees, commercial exploitation and woodfuel.

Coastal forests are those found in areas with a full monsoon climate of the Indian Ocean, with an annual rainfall between 1000 and 2000 mm, usually at an altitude of 500-700 meters Undisturbed coastal forests have a closed canopy in which a few pioneer species are found. More than ten million years ago a belt of thick forest was covering the east coast of Africa, from Mocambique in the south to Kenya in the north. Today, only a few remnants of this coastal forest are left. These old patches of forests are rich in endemic plants and animals. Pugu and Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserves are two of these forests.

The Kazimzumbwi and Pugu Forests are part of one of the oldest forests in the world, one that just 40 years ago was a much larger forest extending to within 10 km of Dar es Salaam. At that time the forest was a home to for instance hippos, lions, cheetas and black- and white colobus monkeys.

In general the coastal forest of East Africa have many species of which several are endemic for the area. The number of endemic or near endemic species to coastal forest areas in East Africa are: 400 plants, five mammals, five birds, 20 reptiles and five frogs. 

Pugu Forest

The Pugu forest was earlier known as the Mogo forest. 1954 the forest was gazetted as Pugu Forest Reserve because of its good timber and its value as a catchment area from where streams supplied water to the nearby city of Dar es Salaam. Today the forest is protected because of its high biodiversity value.

A part of Pugu Forest was cleared in 1877 for the Mackinnon Road, which passed through the present reserve. This road probably has increased the level of exploitation of forest products in the areas close to it. There is also a radio communication mast located within the reserve. In 1964 and 1965 electrical power lines, water mains and a new road were constructed through the reserve with some loss of forest as a result.

The Pugu Forest Reserve has an area of 2 179 hectares and is located approximately 25 km south-south-west of Dar es Salaam and 20 km inland from the Indian Ocean.  (click for map , 59 kB)

The forest reserve overlies the north-eastern end of the Pugu Hills  between 100 and 305 metres altitude click her for map (146 kB), an area covered with kaolinitic sandstones. 

The reserve encloses one of the world’s largest kaolin deposits.Due to the large kaolin deposits in the Pugu Forest the area has a long history of mining operations. These started in the 1950s and were initially limited to drift mining, but open cast mining was introduced in 1973. 

A brick and tile factory is located within the Pugu Forest Reserve and some of the adjacent forest has therefore been cut. Some forest has also been cleared to provide workers accommodation and for agricultural land for these workers. 

Kisarawe is the nearest village located immediately to the west of the reserve. The main road from Dar es Salaam to Kisarawe goes through the reserve, which lies approximately 14 km beyond Dar es Salaam International Airport. 

Pugu Station lies immediately north-east of the forest reserve boundary. The Central Railway line runs through the north of the reserve. The tunnel leading to the Kaoline Works is indicating the original track of the Railway Line which use to pass through it. 

Pugu Forest is the best studied Coastal Forest in Tanzania and has been visited by many biologists. The forest was ranked the equal 32nd most important forest in the top 75 forests for bird conservation in Africa. The Pugu forest is host to many species of animals 

Some of the more common animals are the giant elephant shrew, monkeys, bush-pigs, sunis and mongoose. Some leopards, hyenas and pangolines also inhabit the area. More than 80 species of birds have been recorded and more than 120 tree species have been found in Pugu Forest.

• Ridgetops and steeper slopes support dry evergreen forest with an average canopy height of 10 m, often finely intermixed with thicket vegetation.
• Moist forest, with an average canopy height of 35 m, occurs on gentler slopes.
• Heavily disturbed forest areas have turned into thickets.
• Plantation forest occurs in the reserve. The older plantations are being vigorously recolonised by indigenous species, such that the plantation areas are developing into thickets. In some of the plantations the stubs left from the original forest have produced coppices.