Kitulo National Park
{{short description|Protected area in Tanzania}}
{{Infobox Protected area
| name = Kitulo National Park
| iucn_category = II
| map_caption = Location in Njombe Tanzania
| photo = Kitulo National Park Entry.JPG
| photo_caption =
| location = Njombe,Tanzania
| nearest_city = Mbeya
|map=Tanzania |relief=1
| coords = {{coord|9|05|S|33|55|E|region:TZ-14_type:landmark_dim:50000|display=inline,title}}
| area = 413 km2
| established = 2005
| visitation_num =409
| governing_body =Tanzania National Parks Authority
}}
Kitulo National Park is a protected area of montane grassland and montane forest on the Kitulo Plateau in the southern highlands of Tanzania. The park is at an elevation of {{convert|2600|m}} between the peaks of the Kipengere and Poroto mountains and covers an area of {{convert|412.9|km2}},[http://www.tanzaniaparks.com/kitulo.html Kitulo National Park, Official Website, Tanzania National Parks, accessed 20 November 2014] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920092946/http://tanzaniaparks.com/kitulo.html |date=20 September 2012 }} lying in Mbeya Region and Njombe Region. The park is administered by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) and is the first national park in tropical Africa to be established primarily to protect its flora.{{cite web | url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2002/2002-03-21-01.html | title=Tanzania's New National Park Protects Edible Orchids | publisher=Environment News Service | date=21 March 2002}}
Locals refer to the Kitulo Plateau as "Bustani ya Mungu" ("The Garden of God"), while botanists have referred to it as the "Serengeti of Flowers".
Creation of the park
Protection of the Kitulo Plateau's unique flora was first proposed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), in response to the growing international trade in orchid tubers and increased hunting and logging activities in the surrounding forests.{{cite news | url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2003-03-06-tasty-orchids-are-selling-like-hotcakes-in-tanzania | title=Tasty orchids are selling like hotcakes in Tanzania | publisher=Mail and Guardian Online | date=6 March 2003}} In 2002, President Benjamin Mkapa announced the establishment of the park. The park was formally gazetted in 2005,{{cite web|url=http://www.thegef.org/gef/sites/thegef.org/files/documents/document/Council%20document_10.pdf |title=Strengthening the Protected Area Network in Southern Tanzania: Improving the Effectiveness of National Parks in Addressing Threats to Biodiversity |publisher=Global Environment Facility |date=24 December 2010 |page=21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928024352/http://www.thegef.org/gef/sites/thegef.org/files/documents/document/Council%20document_10.pdf |archivedate=28 September 2013 }} becoming Tanzania's fourteenth national park. TANAPA has stated that the park could be expanded in the future to include the neighbouring Mount Rungwe forest.[http://www.tanzaniaparks.com/corporate_information.html Corporate Information, Official Website, Tanzania National Parks, accessed 20 November 2014] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220102029/http://www.tanzaniaparks.com/corporate_information.html |date=20 December 2015 }}
Kitulo Plateau
{{Main|Kitulo Plateau}}
The Kitulo Plateau lies between two parallel ridges. Its montane grasslands are home to 350 species of plants, including numerous ground orchids, geophytes, and other Afroalpine plants. During the November to April wet season the montane grasslands are carpeted with displays of flowers. Many species are limited to the Kipengere Range and nearby highlands, and three – Brachystelma kituloensis, Impatiens rosulata and Pterygodium ukingense – are limited the Kitulo Plateau.Jon C. Lovett and Erik Prins (1994) "Estimation of land-use changes on Kitulo Plateau, Tanzania, using satellite imagery". Oryx Vol 28 No 3 July 1994.
Livingstone Forest
The Livingstone forest is a montane evergreen forest that descends the souttwestward-facing slope of the park. It is the largest block of forest in the park, and the largest in the Kipengere Range. Thickets of bamboo (Yushania alpina) can be found between the upper montane forests and the high altitude grasslands. The Livingstone Forest lies in the former Livingstone Forest Reserve (240.34 km²), which was incorporated into the national park when it was created in 2005."Livingstone Forest Reserve". Protected Planet. Accessed 5 September 2019. [https://www.protectedplanet.net/555623852] The Bujingijila Gap, a narrow corridor of farms and tree plantations, separates the Livingstone Forest from the Mount Rungwe forests.
The Livingstone Forest is home to three limited-range species of mammals – the endangered Kipunji (Rungwecebus kipunji), Rungwe dwarf galago (Galagoides sp. nov.),Charles Foley, Lara Foley, Alex Lobora, Daniela De Luca, Maurus Msuha, Tim R.B. Davenport, Sarah M. Durant (2014). "A Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Tanzania". Princeton University Press, 2014. and Abbott's duiker (Cephalophus spadix)."Cephalophus spadix (Abbott's Duiker)". IUCN Red List. Accessed 7 September 2019. [https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/4151/50184413] All three species also live in the forests of nearby Mount Rungwe.
In 2005, field scientists from the WCS discovered a new species of primate on and around Mount Rungwe and in the Livingstone Forest area of the park.{{cite web | url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/05/050527105010.htm | title=New Primate Discovered In Mountain Forests Of Tanzania | publisher=sciencedaily.com | date=29 May 2005}} Initially known as the Highland Mangabey, later changed to its Tanzanian name of Kipunji, it is one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world.{{cite web|url=http://www.primate-sg.org/kipunji07.htm |title=25 Most Endangered Primates: The Kipunji |publisher=Primate Specialist Group |accessdate=2011-03-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727185008/http://www.primate-sg.org/kipunji07.htm |archivedate=2011-07-27 }}
Ndumbi Forest
The Ndumbi forest, at the eastern end of Kitulo National Park, includes montane evergreen forest and forests of East African Cedar (Juniperus procera)."Strengthening the Protected Area Network in Southern Tanzania: Improving the Effectiveness of National Parks in Addressing Threats to Biodiversity." Project Document for UN Environment Program, Republic of Tanzania, and Global Environment Facility. Accessed 5 September 2019. The former Ndumbi Valley Forest Reserve (27.71 km²) was established in 1956, and was incorporated into the national park when it was created in 2005."Ndumbi Forest Reserve" Protected Planet. Accessed 5 September 2019. [https://www.protectedplanet.net/555512495] The Ndumbi forest is also home to a 100-meter waterfall.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120920092946/http://tanzaniaparks.com/kitulo.html Kitulo National Park, Tanzania National Parks website]
{{Commons category}}
{{National Parks of Tanzania}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Geography of Njombe Region
Category:Geography of Mbeya Region
Category:National parks of Tanzania
Category:Protected areas established in 2005
Category:Southern Highlands, Tanzania
Category:Southern Rift montane forest–grassland mosaic
Category:Tourist attractions in the Njombe Region