Conservation of the Forests on Kilimanjaro

Mt Kilimanjaro's rapidly retreating glacier is probably disappearing as a result of deforestation of the surrounding slopes rather than global warming or climate change. This is apparent because the loss of ice is via sublimation rather than melting. The loss of the forests reduces the amount of humidity and consequently the amount of snowfall.

Jakaya Kikwete, the President of Tanzania, recently said the following: 'Wanton destruction of trees in mountains has completely ruined our environment. It is now necessary to ban destruction of forests to save the environment…'

Charcoal burning and logging have been banned from Kilimanjaro's slopes, however it may be a case of too little too late. Recently the local environment has been noticeably drying out. Kilimanjaro has always had a high population density but this has increased since the colonial era and the level of clear felling for agricultural purposes has risen correspondingly.

The rich forests of Kilimanjaro cover the flanks of the mountain, trapping moisture which is then released slowly. The forest comprises of a belt that is in some places less than a kilometer thick. When Hans Meyer first climbed Kilimanjaro he found an immense forest, skirting the mountain to the floor of the savannah. The forest was graded in saturation and density with altitude. It was most concentrated between 1,300m to 3,300m.

Conservation is usually left to volunteer organisations and NGOs, that, guided and administered by a handful of professional conservationists. The general plan of these organisations is an attempt to enlighten the local people to the fact that they are sowing the seeds of their own demise. The constant land clearing for agriculture is wholly counter-productive, since it is merely creating the conditions where agriculture will become futile. Flash flooding can now occur arround Kilimanjaro, often followed by massive gully erosion and landslides. This is already visibly affecting the landscape.
For more information on climbing Kilimanjaro or visiting Tanzania's mountains click Climb Kilimanjaro with Mountain Kingdom Safaris

Roy J Hinde M.Sc. is a former research scientist who now is a director of Wild Things Safaris Ltd and runs the marketing for MK safaris Climb Kilimanjaro.