East Usambaras
Deforestation and Agriculture
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East Usambaras
This century the forest cover in the East Usambaras have been much reduced. During the early part of the century forests were cut to establish coffee plantations and later extensive tea estates. Since the 1970s deforestation has been largely caused by human needs for agricultural land. With the exception of steep escarpments, all areas outside forest reserves are now cultivated. The transition from forest to a deforested landscape is gradual. At first farmers do not cut all large trees and cultivate amidst the remaining canopy trees (see top photograph). These eventually die or are cut down resulting in a largely treeless landscape (middle photograph). Due to the steepness of slopes much soil erosion occurs and there is a need for contour planting and terracing to remedy this problem. After the cessation of industrial logging in 1987, pit-sawing remained an important activity until the early 1990s. Following pit-sawing activities (typical example illustrated bottom right) the undergrowth would often be cleared to establish a cash crop of cardamom. After a few years, the soil being exhausted, the area would then be used to grow maize and later cassava. |
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