text: by Mongabay.com on 4 January 2009
  "These results, documenting the high species richness and the outstanding number of putative endemics of the forests, strongly highlight the biological importance of the South Nguru Mountains and place them among the most important sites for the conservation of herpetofauna in Africa," wrote Menegon and Nike Doggart, a co-author of a report published in the journal Acta Herpetologica
  The discoveries highlight the region's rich biodiversity, but Menegon and Doggart, together with Nisha Owen of the Frontier Tanzania Forest Research Program in Dar es Salaam, warn that the ecosystem is already under threat from fire, logging, fuelwood collection, and clearing for agriculture including cardamom cultivation. Nevertheless the authors are encouraged by the efforts of a Tanzanian NGO, the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG), to work with local stakeholders to improve conservation planning in the region.
  "Villagers and government have identified a series of actions required to address the issue of forest loss," the authors write. "This includes a combination of direct forest management activities such as developing and implementing forest management plans and boundary demarcation; and activities aimed at reducing local people's dependence on unsustainable activities such as the current methods of cultivating cardamom.
  "The program represents an opportunity to reverse the current trend of forest
  loss and degradation. To succeed the program will need sustained commitment from the Government of Tanzania, civil society organizations, the local communities and development partners to conserve the unique biodiversity of this area," they conclude.
  CITATION: Michele Menegon, Nike Doggart, Nisha Owen. The Nguru mountains of Tanzania, an outstanding hotspot of herpetofaunal diversity. Acta Herpetologica 3(2): 107-127, 2008
  A new species of monkey is discovered in tanzania: the first in africa for over 20 years May 19, 2005
  Africa's first new species of monkey for over 20 years has been discovered in the remote mountains of southern Tanzania. Called the "Highland Mangabey" (Lophocebus kipunji), this long-haired forest primate was first discovered by conservation biologists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) on the flanks of the 2961 m (10,000 ft) volcano Mt. Rungwe and in the adjoining Kitulo National Park. Remarkably, this highly secretive animal was later also found by another team working independently more than 350 km (230 miles) away. The discovery is described in the leading journal Science.
  Amphibians, Animals, Biodiversity, Environment, Green, Happy-upbeat Environmental, Herps, New Species, Reptiles, Species Discovery, Wildlife