Site description (2001 baseline)
Jozani Forest Reserve is the only remaining forest left on Unguja, the main island of Zanzibar. It is a small, much modified groundwater-forest, which includes a 12 ha plantation. Some tree species, such as Calyophyllum inophyllum, initially thought to have been introduced, are now believed to be indigenous. Even in heavily exploited areas a variety of tree species still occur and are regenerating. There has been no commercial exploitation of Jozani since 1990.
Key biodiversity
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. The annotated checklist for Zanzibar lists 217 species. All forest species known for Unguja occur at Jozani as it holds virtually all the remaining forest habitat on the island. Birds include three endemic races: Tauraco fischeri zanzibaricus, Andropadus virens zanzibaricus and Nectarinia veroxii zanzibarica. A fourth, Nectarinia olivacea granti, is shared only with Pemba island and a fifth, Cercotrichas quadrivrigata greenwayi, is shared with Mafia island.
Non-bird biodiversity: The primate Colobus badius kirkii (EN) is endemic to the island and 30% of the total population of 2,400 is centred on Jozani Forest, which must be considered essential to its long-term survival. The near-endemic ungulate Cephalophus adersi (EN) has its stronghold on Unguja with a population estimated at below 2,000, in five fragmented sub-populations, including one at Jozani.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Jozani Forest (Tanzania). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/jozani-forest-iba-tanzania on 22/12/2024.