Monitoring, Research, Data

Monitoring conducted by the Udzungwa Mountains National Park's Ecology Department

The following are recent or on-going research and monitoring activities conducted by the Ecology Department, some of which are assisted and further enhanced by the UEMC:

• Ranger-based monitoring of large mammals. This programme was revised and enhanced in 2008 by UEMC and the Ecology Dept. to establish a new system of monthly counts of large mammals conducted by trained rangers along 2 transects (4 km in length) from each of 5 remote ranger posts across the park (see map). Data collection by rangers during the first year was supervised by a team of trained field assistants. Since mid-2009 data collection by rangers continues regularly. Reports can be downloaded here.
• Study of Sanje mangabey's ecology in Mwanihana forest, focussing on an habituated group located near the park HQs. Beginning in 2007, the group is also used for guided visits by tourists. The project is in collaboration with Trevor Jones, Anglia Ruskin University.
• Monitoring of firewood collection by people in Mwanihana forest, which is allowed by adjacent communities once per week.
• Related to the above, a study of the impact of human disturbance on dung beetles in Mwanihana forest was conducted in 2005 and then repeated in 2008 in collaboration with the University of Dar es Salaam. Reports can be downloaded here.
  

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