Conservation priorities for the forests of the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania, based on primates, duikers and birds

Results are presented from 14 surveys in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Forest fragments are ranked by occurrence of key species of primates, duikers and birds. Taken together, the West Kilombero Scarp forests, Mwanihana and Udzungwa Scarp have presumably viable populations of four Udzungwa endemics with the following total population estimates: Udzungwa colobus (Procolobus badius gordonorum 15,400), Sanje mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus sanjei 1350), Udzungwa forest partridge (Xenoperdix udzungwensis 3700) and rufous-winged sunbird (Nectarinia rufipennis 6850). The mountains are also strongholds for Swynnerton's robin (Swynnertonia swynnertoni), Iringa akalat (Sheppardia lowei), dapple-throat (Arcanator orostruthus), white-winged apalis (Apalis chariessa), Usambara weaver (Ploceus nicolli), and for Abbott's duiker (Cephalophus spadix). Appropriate village based conservation measures need to address questions about sustainable forest use, hunting and possibilities for forest regeneration in large tracts of fire-maintained grasslands. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.