October 2024
Biodiversity and Conservation Along an East African Railway
A Survey of the Dar es Salaam-Makutupora Standard Gauge Railway, Tanzania
by Catherine Aloyce Masao, Joel Nobert, Flora John Magige, Edmond Alavaisha, S. Zainabu Bungwa, Philbert Anitha Byabato, Deusdedith Fidelis, Elikana John, Jasson John, Julius Mohamed Kibaja, Heriel Moshy, Athumani Fatina Mturi, R. Juma Mwangi, Henry Ndangalasi, Wilrik Ngalasoni, Alberto Bruno Nyundo, Chacha Werema, Felix A. Shayo, N A Mbwambo
It is well known that infrastructure development projects can boost the economy and reduce the cost of trade in both developing and developed economies, however, infrastructure projects can also cause biodiversity loss. This book is the result of an important biodiversity survey conducted along an East African railway in Tanzania. The building of the railway, still under construction, has already led to habitat loss, habitat degradation and landscape change which may have affected biodiversity. The book includes recommendations to mitigate the effect of railway construction by protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services which could have major implications across Africa and other regions. The area covered by the survey focuses on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) running through the Pugu and Ruvu South Forest Reserves towards Maktupora-Dodoma, plus data on large mammals through to Isaka-Shinyanga. The Pugu forests boast high biodiversity of both flora and fauna, some of which are endemic to the area. There are both plant and animal species that are of major conservation concern so there is urgent need to consolidate information to help formulate suitable conservation measures. The data collected covers plants, invertebrates, amphibians, birds, and mammals for terrestrial and aquatic environments along the SGR. This work is timely as there are many more ongoing SGR construction projects in Tanzania and across Africa, as such construction activities inevitably involve some habitat modification and destruction that may have a negative impact on biodiversity. National and international scientists, decision and policy makers, as well as ecologists and conservation managers involved in large infrastructure projects will find this book invaluable. The book provides baseline information and can be used as a case study for other infrastructure development projects around the world.
