Conservation priorities for the forests of the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania, based on primates, duikers and birds

Results are presented from 14 surveys in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Forest fragments are ranked by occurrence of key species of primates, duike rs and birds. Taken together, the West Kilombero Scarp forests, Mwanihana a nd Udzungwa Scarp have presumably viable populations of four Udzungwa endem ics with the following total population estimates: Udzungwa colobus (Procol obus badius gordonorum 15,400), Sanje mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus sanjei 1350), Udzungwa forest partridge (Xenoperdix udzungwensis 3700) and rufous -winged sunbird (Nectarinia rufipennis 6850). The mountains are also strong holds for Swynnerton's robin (Swynnertonia swynnertoni), Iringa akalat (She ppardia lowei), dapple-throat (Arcanator orostruthus), white-winged apalis (Apalis chariessa), Usambara weaver (Ploceus nicolli), and for Abbott's dui ker (Cephalophus spadix). Appropriate village based conservation measures n eed to address questions about sustainable forest use, hunting and possibil ities for forest regeneration in large tracts of fire-maintained grasslands . (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.