Replanting the burnt Mkussu Forest, Tanzania

Mkussu Forest Reserve is among the 9 Nature Forest Reserves located within Lushoto District Council and it is situated at Kwemashai ward within Kwemashai village. This forest was burnt about two years ago and that fire was caused by human economic activities such as charcoal making and searching for fuel wood. Lushoto District is found in West Usambara Mountains in a high-water tower landscape which is the source of water to the Northern Zone of Tanzania.
The overall general objective of this project is to restore the burnt Mkussu Nature Forest Reserve with several indigenous tree species so as to restore some of the burnt places of the forest by planting indigenous trees on it.
Our organization deals with environmental conservation within the Usambara Mountains. The aim of this project is to restore the degraded nature of Mkussu Nature Forest Reserve by planting not less than 500.000 indigenous trees including some indigenous tree species. We reforest areas burnt by wildfires and charcoal-making human activities. Up to April 2022, we have already planted more than 106,000 indigenous trees since this project started in 2019. The main reasons for the degradation of Mkussu Forest Reserve were an increase in the need for timber products from the forest for building purposes and energy like charcoal burners. The second reason is the emergency of fire which led to most of the areas of Mkussu Forest Reserve being burnt and degraded.
Among other species, we are planting mostly Albizia Gummifera also known as ''Mshai'' in Swahili language. This type of indigenous tree is mostly recommended to be planted within a natural forest as it conserves moisture and supports water conservation planted at an altitude of 1500-1600 m with rainfall up to 1040 mm per annum. We have a tree nursery that ensures the sustainability of the project as well as doing the tree planting activities with primary and secondary schools in our school greening program.
Our project work includes close monitoring of all the trees planted in this reforestation project. We do our organization activities with the respect to support we receive from the community.