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 Scientists refer to the nine mountain ranges situated in a half-moon shape in southern Kenya and eastern Tanzania as the Eastern Arc. Geologists date these ranges at nearly 100 million years old. The rainforests that cover them are of a similar age. One of the oldest rainforests in the world, the Arc is one of the top 20 "hot spots" for biodiversity in the world. Scientists also call the Arc the "Galapagos of Africa" — an island chain of cool, moist forests in an arid sea of hot savanna. Each range has species of plants and animals not found across the dry savanna in the next forest island. Collectively, the Arc is the sole habitat of thousands of plants and animals found no where else.  Map of the Eastern Arc The Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG) The TFCG has pioneered local forest management and grass roots community conservation. For the first time in a hundred years, since the dawn of the colonial era, local villages, rather than the central government, are managing the forests, taking medicinal plants and dead wood for fuel and protecting the forest from timber poaching, cattle grazing and clearing. Now that they are not officially banned by the government but have a stake in the forest, they are protecting it. Over 45,000 people, in thirty villages in three mountain ranges and two coastal forests, are currently reached by project activities. Over a million trees have been planted, both to restore damaged forests and supply villages with fuel-wood and timber. Over a 100 self-help groups — men's groups, women's groups, youth groups, church groups — have been founded for tree planting and income-generating activities. Over 50 village schools now include our environmental education classes.  Local children who live within the forest The TFCG is managed by a board of directors, chaired by Patrick Qorro, a long-time member of parliament and leading Tanzanian environmental advocate. Based in Dar Es Salaam, Nike Doggart, who has an environmental degree from Oxford is the Coordinator. Charles Meshack, a Sokoine University forester, is the Projects Officer. Adrian Kahamela, a Sokoine University forester, is the Network Officer. Based in the field, five other university foresters serve as project managers. A full time Botanical Collector gathers plants in on-going safaris and a search for new species. Thirty local employees work in the projects.   Patrick Qorro Charles Meshack
  Nike Doggart Adrian Kahemala Click below to view the Africa Rainforest Conservancy Timeline |
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