CONSERVATION OF THE PEMBA PALM, PEMBA ISLAND, TANZANIA

The charismatic and little known Pemba Palm (Dypsis pembana) is found only on the small island of Pemba, 50km of the coast of Tanzania. With fewer than 3,000 Pemba Palms thought to exist, and their remaining habitat under threat the Global Trees Campaign have initiated a project, in partnership with the Department of Commercial Crops, Fruits and Forestry (DCCFF), Zanzibar to reinforce wild populations and raise awareness of the need for conserving the Pemba Palm.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The Pemba Palm, which is thought to have a population of fewer than 3,000, is mainly confined to small forest patches in the North of Pemba island, such as the 1,975 ha Ngezi Vumawimbi Forest Reserve. The reserve also hosts Zanthoxylum holtzianum, a very little known medicinal tree species thought until recently to occur only in mainland Tanzania. Other significant forest patches in the north of the island include the Msitu Mkuu Forest Reserve (300 ha) and Ras Kiuyu Forest (approx 200 ha) which also host Zanthoxylum holtzianum and endemic Aloe pembana. In addition to plant species, these protected areas harbour significant varieties of endemic mammals, reptiles and birds such as the Pemba Flying Fox, Pemba Blue Duiker, Pemba Scops Owl, and the Pemba Day Gecko.

The increasing human population in the area is leading to unsustainable logging, over-collection of forest products and clearance of the forest for agriculture. In addition, forest fires and the invasive plant Maesopsis eminii are threatening native species. In response to these threats the Global Trees Campaign, working with local partner the Department of Commercial Crops, Fruits and Forestry (DCCFF), Zanzibar has begun work to increase the long-term security of the Pemba Palm’s habitat, reduce threats to the species and establish tree nurseries in local communities.

PROJECT UPDATE: June 2010 - June 2011

In its second phase the project will continue to restore Pemba palm habitat and to support the operation and maintenance of the three tree nurseries. The aim for this year is to work alongside local communities to produce and plant out 10,000 Pemba Palm seedlings.

FIRST PHASE: June 2009-June 2010

The project established and supporting three community nurseries in the villages of Makangale, Kilindini and Konde. A total of 34,900 tree seedlings were produced in the three nurseries and 14,830 seedlings were planted out, including 6,450 seedlings of Pemba palm.

The invasive plant Maesopsis eminii, which is widespread within Pemba’s forests, is believed to hinder regeneration of native species, including the Pemba palm. In this phase of the project, 50 ha of the plant were ring-barked in Kanisani Makangale.

The forest use agreements of ten villages around the Ngezi–Vumawinbi Nature Forest Reserve were reviewed and revised to incorporate sustainable use of resources, and are now being sent to the Director of Forestry for official authorisation.

A training session on forest fire management was conducted in late 2009, attended by 30 villagers, 28 staff from the nature reserve and 10 from the Department of Commercial Crops, Fruits and Forestry head office. A conservation education film is currently in production for use in schools and the wider community.

A lack of knowledge of the status of the Pemba palm is one major challenge to its conservation and the project carried out surveys to assess the current number and distribution of the palm in the wild, as well as other species such as Zanthoxylum holtzianum.

Read more about FFI’s work with the Pemba flying fox

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