LAKE DULUTI FOREST RESERVE
19 +63 hectors biodiversity hotspot
Lake Duluti Forest Reserve is a
well conserved place that brings the nature into a balanced ecosystem. It is
located in Arumeru District and is about 16 kilometers from Arusha town. Duluti
Forest Reserve combines both human and tourism activities without affecting the
ecosystem.
Though Lake Duluti Forest Reserve
is a well conserved place, it is not famous and popular among the people of
Arusha. Lake Duluti
is known to be a volcanic lake that covers about 63 hectares which is equal to 154 acres whereas the Forest area covers about 19 hectares which is equivalent
to 46.44 acres.
The deepest part of the lake is about 700 meters deep at the center where the
shallow parts are at the lake shores whose depth varies from side to side.
Organism of Lake
Duluti Forest
Reserve
Lake Duluti
possesses a variety of living organism that are both terrestrial and aquatic
such plants, birds,snails and slugs and fishes. Birds of Lake Duluti Forest
Reserve are mostly percivores due to the
presence of abundant fishes from the lake, birds like cormorants and
kingfishers are found in groups hunting for fish along the sides of the lake. One
cormorant is estimated to eat about 150 small sized fish per day. Some of the
terrestrial organisms are totally burrowers
Activities
The major activity of the area is
Eco-tourism. Simple and less expensive fee is also the pulling factor for this
ecotourism activity, that is 30+USD per foreign visitor, 3000 Tsh per local
visitor and 1500 Tsh per each students and worshipers. Eco-tourism activity of
this area includes forest walking, canoeing, forest camping, education
activities, and religious activities that involve baptism and worship along the
rectangular caves. Tourists from different places come to enjoy the spectacular
scenic beauty of this area. These activities generate money that is used for
the conservation activities and development of the park and villages around the
forest reserve. Fishing in this place is not allowed.
Conservation challenges
Several conservation challenges
facing this area include,
a)
Water tapping management whereby different companies
have their water pumps for daily water consumption.
b)
Illegal fishing at night is also a challenge to
the Duluti Forest Reserve Authority.
c)
Dwindling of big indigenous trees such as
Cordia Africana (east africa
cordia) `due to timber exploitation by local people of Arumeru District.
Remark from writer
A nice ecosystem is a determinant
for the health of biodiversity. This area is very unique and special. Before I
decided to write this article I didn’t know it was a wonderfully place for
conservation interest in the future, but after realizing this the idea of
taking action came up in my mind of supporting the conservation of this area through
sharing my idea with you. We should think of what should be done. At this time
I am writing this article I am also trying to put into consideration the
various organisms that this ecosystem is supporting.
Think about;
- The
source of carbon sink that ecosystems provide
- The
numbers of birds that are available within
the Forest area of 19 hectares
- The numbers
of aquatic organism that are available within the very small lake of 63
hectares
- The number of tourists visiting the area
annually
- The development activities taking place around
this reserve in 10-20 years to come
From this point I would like to request
your comments, ideas or contribution on what should be done for the long term
conservation of this special area.
