Geology and ecology
The Usambaras are fairly unique in that, being in East Africa, their unspoiled regions are covered in the tropical forest, which today remains mainly in the West of the continent. The mountain range was formed nearly two billion years ago and due to a lack of glaciations and a relatively consistent climate, the rainforest has gone through a long term and unique evolution resulting in an impressive amount of endemism and an old growth cloud rain forest (Lovett 1993[1]). West and East Usambaras are large ranges of Precambrian metamorphic geologic formations of acid-gneisses, pyroxenes and amphiboles. These mountains were formed by faulting and uplifting creating the drainage system of troughs that form many watersheds, which provide water to a majority of the population of northeast Tanzania (Lundgren 1980). Considered tremendously significant ecologically, there are many protected zones throughout the range, which are being expanded and contributed to by the Tanzanian government, associated NGO's and research teams, and donor countries such as Norway. Several species are endemic to the Usambara forests, including the Usambara Eagle-owl (Bubo vosseleri), the Usambara Akalat (Sheppardia montana), the Usambara Weaver (Ploceus nicolli), and the tree Calodendrum eickii.
Human history
Historically the Usambara Mountains have been inhabited by the Bantu,
Sambaa, and Maasai people who were a mix of agriculturalists and
pastoralists. In the late 19th century, German colonialists came to the
area bringing with them a mix of cash crops like lumber trees, coffee,
tea, and quinine, and also designated forests as reserves for either
water conservation or timber use (Rogers 2009). They also brought a slew
of new, western ideas which were, in many ways, diametrically opposed
to traditional beliefs such as coexistence with the forest versus forest
as a "separate wilderness" (Korschun 2007). The result of colonialism
was a massive change in the way forests were perceived in the community,
and conversion of traditional agriculture to cultivating cash crops
such as quinine, pine trees, bananas, maize, tea, and coffee.Development and tourism
Today, the population of the Usambaras has one of the highest growth rates (about 4% compared to the national average of 2.1%), a staggering amount of poverty and highest densities of people in all of Tanzania (R. Matthews 2009). Most of the inhabitants are subsistence farmers who rely heavily on the forests around them for timber, medicinal plants, clearing for agriculture, and fuel wood (S. Kiparo 2009).
Furthermore 70% of the original forest cover of the West and East Usambaras has been lost (Doggart et al. 2005[2]). Major land and forest degradation remain a pressing issue. However, there are still many places that attract tourists looking for an adventure off the beaten path. These include the bustling trade town of Lushoto, the once popular German resort Amani Nature Reserve and farm, and Mazumbai University Forest, which is considered the last example of a pristine forest in the East Usambaras.
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