Kitulo National Park
Encyclopedia
Kitulo National Park is a protected area of alpine
grassland
and montane forest in the Southern Highlands
of Tanzania
. The Park covers an area of 412.9 km² (159.4 sq mi), lying partly in Mbeya Region
and partly in Iringa Region
. The protected area includes the Kitulo Plateau and the adjoining Livingstone Forest. The Park is administered by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), and is the first National Park in tropical Africa
to be established primarily for the protection of its flora
.
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.
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. In 2002, President Benjamin Mkapa
announced the establishment of the Kitulo National Park. The Park was formally gazetted in 2005, becoming Tanzania's 14th National Park. Future proposals by TANAPA would see the Park expanded to include the neighbouring Mount Rungwe
Forest.
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 National Park. Initially known as the highland mangabey, later changed to its Tanzanian name of kipunji
, it is one the 25 most endangered primates in the world.
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
and montane forest in the Southern Highlands
Southern Highlands, Tanzania
The Tanzania Southern Highlands refers to the region encompassing the four provinces of Iringa, Mbeya, Rukwa and Ruvuma. It is bordered by Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Kigoma, Tabora, Singida, Dodoma, Morogoro, Lindi and Mtwara.-Climate and geography:...
of Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. The Park covers an area of 412.9 km² (159.4 sq mi), lying partly in Mbeya Region
Mbeya Region
Mbeya is one of Tanzania's 26 administrative regions. The regional capital is Mbeya. It is bordered to the northwest by Tabora Region, to the northeast by Singida Region, to the East by Iringa Region, to the South by Zambia and Malawi and to the West by Rukwa Region...
and partly in Iringa Region
Iringa Region
Iringa is one of Tanzania's 26 administrative regions. The regional capital is Iringa. The total area is , of which land area is 56,864 km sq and water area is 2,070 km² ....
. The protected area includes the Kitulo Plateau and the adjoining Livingstone Forest. The Park is administered by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), and is the first National Park in tropical Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
to be established primarily for the protection of its flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
.
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.
Protection of the Kitulo Plateau's unique flora was first proposed by the Wildlife Conservation Society
Wildlife Conservation Society
The Wildlife Conservation Society based at the Bronx Zoo was founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society and currently manages some of wild places around the world, with over 500 field conservation projects in 60 countries, and 200 scientists on staff...
(WCS), in response to the growing international trade in orchid tubers and increased hunting and logging activities in the surrounding forests. In 2002, President Benjamin Mkapa
Benjamin Mkapa
Benjamin William Mkapa was the third President of the United Republic of Tanzania and former Chairman for the Revolutionary State Party .-Biography:...
announced the establishment of the Kitulo National Park. The Park was formally gazetted in 2005, becoming Tanzania's 14th National Park. Future proposals by TANAPA would see the Park expanded to include the neighbouring Mount Rungwe
Mount Rungwe
Mount Rungwe is a potentially active volcano in the Mbeya region of the southern highlands of Tanzania. At an altitude of , it is southern Tanzania's second highest peak. Rungwe stands at the junction of the eastern and western arms of the Great Rift Valley of Africa. It dominates the mountainous...
Forest.
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 National Park. Initially known as the highland mangabey, later changed to its Tanzanian name of kipunji
Kipunji
The kipunji is a species of Old World monkey that lives in the highland forests of Tanzania. It is the only member of its genus. Also known as the highland mangabey, it is about three feet long and has long brown fur, which stands in tufts on the sides and top of its head. Its face and eyelids...
, it is one the 25 most endangered primates in the world.
External links
- Kitulo, Tanzania National Parks website