Rondo Plateau

African teak on the Rondo Plateau, c.1908
The Nigerian brigade halts on the Rondo Plateau, October 1917, World War I

The Rondo Plateau is a high and extensive massif in the Mtwara Region of southeastern of Tanzania, which is in part protected by the Rondo Forest Reserve.[1] It is reached about 60km inland of Lindi, and is situated 15km north of the Masasi road. It was revealed as an important biodiversity site in studies conducted since the 1980s.[1]

Flora

It is an important stand of primary coastal forest in Tanzania, but also contains elements of montane forest, as it reaches 900 metres in altitude.[1] The higher slopes are covered in extensive semi-deciduous, hardwood forest, constituting over 18 square km of closed canopy forest. Some 100 species of plant are endemic to the area.[1]

Fauna

Various monkey species and small mammals occur. The Rondo dwarf galago was discovered here in the 1990s by Simon Bearder.[1]

Conservation

Though a forest reserve since colonial times, much wood was harvested in the 1950s, when some 20 square km of forest was cleared to establish exotic plantations.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Mtwara: Rondo Plateau". bushroutes.com. Retrieved 23 May 2014.

Media related to Rondo Plateau at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 10°09′S 39°15′E / 10.150°S 39.250°E