Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T07:05:38.375Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Estimation of land-use changes on Kitulo Plateau, Tanzania, using satellite imagery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Jon C. Lovett
Affiliation:
Botanical Museum, University of Copenhagen, Gothersgade 130, DK-1123, Copenhagen, Denmark and Department of Botany, University of Dar es Salaam, PO Box 35060, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Erik Prins
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography, University of Copenhagen, Østervoldgade 10, DK-135O, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The Kitulo Plateau of southern Tanzania is a lava plateau covering 273 sq km at an altitude of over 2500 m. The vegetation is predominately grassland with more than 350 taxa of vascular plants, of which nearly 5 per cent are of restricted distribution. Although the plateau is extensive, much of it is now cultivated. Digital analysis of satellite images showed that at least 24 per cent of the plateau was bare soil, modified grassland or cultivation between 1973 and 1989. The botanical importance of the plateau and increase in cultivation make a strong case for the establishment of a nature reserve to protect its rare and threatened plants.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1994

References

Andersen, H.S., Grundtmann, J., Rasmussen, K. and Fog, B. 1992. CHIPS version 3.0. User's Guide. Institute of Geography, University of Copenhagen.Google Scholar
Anon. 1993. Fears for upland grassland. Miombo, 10, 9.Google Scholar
Beard, J.S. 1992. The Proteas of Tropical Africa. Kangaroo Press, Hong Kong.Google Scholar
Brenan, J.P.M. 1978. Some aspects of the phytogeography of tropical Africa. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 65, 437478.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cribb, P.J. and Leedal, G.P. 1982. The Mountain Flowers of Southern Tanzania. A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam.Google Scholar
Elton, J.F. and Cotteril, H.B. 1879. Travels and Researches among the Lakes and Mountains of Eastern and Central Africa. London.Google Scholar
Gillman, C. 1927. South-West Tanganyika Territory. The Geographical Journal, 69, 96131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldblatt, P. 1977. Systematics of Moraea (Iridaceae) in tropical Africa. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 64, 243295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goyder, D.J. 1990. A new species of Brachystelma (Asclepiadaceae) from southern Tanzania. Kew Bulletin, 45, 729731.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greenway, P.J. 1955. Ecological observations on an extinct East African volcanic mountain. Journal of Ecology, 43, 544563.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harcourt, A. and Stewart, K. 1993. Kilimanjaro: African treasure or rubbish tip? Miombo, 10, 1.Google Scholar
Harkin, D.A. 1960. The Rungwe Volcanics at the northern end of Lake Nyasa. Geological Survey of Tanganyika Memoir II. Dar es Salaam: Government Printer.Google Scholar
Hedberg, O. 1957. Afroalpine vascular plants. A taxonomic revision. Symbolae Botanicae Upsalienses, 15, 1411.Google Scholar
Hoyle, B.S. 1986. Gillman of Tanganyika, 1882–1946: Pioneer Geographer. The Geographical Journal, 152, 354366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
IUCN/UNEP. 1987. The IUCN Directory of Afrotropical Protected Areas. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.Google Scholar
Kielland, J. 1990. Butterflies of Tanzania. Hill House, Melbourne and London.Google Scholar
Knox, E. B. 1993. The conservation status of the giant senecios and giant lobelias in Eastern Africa. Opera Botanica, 121, 195216.Google Scholar
Lovett, J.C. 1990. The Kitulo Plateau. Swam, 13, 1011.Google Scholar
Lovett, J.C. 1992. Main report of the Udzungwa Forest Management Project Identification Mission. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. 108 pp. plus 16 technical annexes.Google Scholar
Lovett, J.C. 1993. Temperate and tropical floras in Tanzania. Opera Botanica, 121, 217227.Google Scholar
Lovett, J.C, Gereau, R.E. and Sidwell, K.J. In press. Vegetation and phytogeography of the Kitulo Plateau, southern Tanzania. Proceedings of the Xllth AETFAT Congress,Zomba,Malawi.Google Scholar
Newmark, W.D. and Nguye, P.A. 1991. Recreational impacts of tourism along the Marangu route in Kilimanjaro National Park. In The Conservation of Mount Kilimanjaro (ed. Newmark, W. D.), pp. 4751. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge.Google Scholar
Pócs, T. 1976. Vegetation mapping in the Uluguru mountains (Tanzania, East Africa). Boissiera, 24, 477498.Google Scholar
Polhill, R.M. 1968. Tanzania. Acta Phytogeographica Suecica, 54, 166178.Google Scholar
Polhill, R.M. 1988. East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda). In Floristic Inventory of Tropical Countries (eds Campbell, D. G. and Hammond, D.), pp. 218231. New York Botanical Garden, New York.Google Scholar
Rasmussen, K. 1993. Introduction to Satellite Remote Sensing. Institute of Geography, University of Copenhagen.Google Scholar
Rodgers, W.A. 1993. The conservation of the forest resources of eastern Africa: past influences, present practices and future needs. In Biogeography and Ecology of the Rain Forests of Eastern Africa (eds Lovett, J. C. and Wasser, S. K.), pp. 283331. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sheil, D. 1992. Tanzanian coastal forests - unique, threatened, and overlooked. Oryx, 26, 107114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spurrier, M. 1993. Destruction of habitat on Lisitu Ridge, south-western Tanzania. Miombo, 10, 8.Google Scholar
Strid, A. 1989. Endemism and speciation in the Greek flora. In The Davis and Hedge Festschrift (ed. Tan, K.), pp. 2744. Edinburgh University Press.Google Scholar
Tilman, D. and Downing, J.A. 1993. Biodiversity and stability in grasslands. Nature, 367, 363365.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
TISCO. 1983. Dairy Development for Kitulo Plateau: A feasibility study for Tanzania livestock development authority, Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Industrial Studies and Consulting Organisation, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Google Scholar
Tucker, C.J. 1979. Red and photographic infrared linear combinations for monitoring vegetation. Remote Sensing and Environment, 15, 255261.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wardell, D.A. 1991. Makete District Forest Conservation and Land-use Management Project. Identification report and preliminary project proposals for Makete District. DANIDA, Dar es Salaam.Google Scholar
White, F. 1983. The Vegetation of Africa. UNESCO, Paris.Google Scholar