The Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG) conserves and restores the biodiversity of globally important forests in Tanzania for present and future generations, with a focus on the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests. The forests and the plants and animals that they support provide many ecological services including capturing and storing greenhouse gases, water catchment, pollination, and soil protection. TFCG is the largest Tanzanian non-governmental organization focusing on the conservation of natural forests, with projects across 14 Districts.

The ultimate goal of this project is to regenerate forest gaps between the largest and closest forest fragments in the biodiverse Usambara Mountains. This regeneration is critical to enhancing the long-term population viability of many rare and endemic plant and animal species that occur here, including flower-pollinating birds and butterflies. Partners for this project include the Tanzanian Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), Amani Friends of Nature, University of Dar es Salaam Department of Botany, and the Natural History Museum of Utah.

TFCG and partners will monitor biodiversity in forest gaps and regenerate vegetation to close these gaps between fragments in the Misalai Village Forest Reserve (East Usambara Mountains) and Magamba Nature Reserve (West Usambara Mountains). This project will also enhance capacity and local understanding and support for this work. Specific activities and objectives include:

1. Support two MSc students from the University of Dar es Salaam, Department of Botany.
2. Hire and train local villagers to assist MSc students.
3. Train a team of local technicians to identify and monitor bird species.
4. Train TAWIRI staff and volunteers to monitor butterfly species through collaboration with TAWIRI’s JRS-funded project.
5. Carry out social and economic assessment of forest gap expansion and revegetation.
6. Complete baseline surveys of bird and butterfly species.
7. Species occurrence data will be uploaded to the open-access TAWIRI Bioanuwai Database with links to GBIF.
8. Formal agreements will be reached with District authorities to revegetate gaps.
9. Establish an outreach and communication program.

Charles K. Meshack is the Executive Director of the TFCG and has been at the forefront of national forest conservation initiatives for over two decades. He holds a Research Masters in Ecology and Environmental Management from the University of York, UK and a BSc in Forestry from the University of Sokoine Morogoro, Tanzania. Most recently Mr. Meshack has played a key leadership role in establishing sustainable charcoal value chains in ways that incentivize rural communities to reduce deforestation by generating incomes from natural woodlands. He has represented Tanzanian civil society on forest conservation issues and is an outspoken proponent for more equitable and effective forest management in Tanzania and abroad.