• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2001 baseline)
Mtwara District is the south-easternmost part of Tanzania, bordering the Indian Ocean and Mozambique. The district is generally low-lying with much modified coastal woodland rising to only 300 m. There are numerous rivers flowing off the Mkonde plateau, either eastwards to the ocean or southwards into the Ruvuma river. The often deep valleys created by these rivers, in particular the Kitame, Mkundi and Mutumnudi may contain forest habitat, but none have been investigated. Mtiniko Forest Reserve (1,736 ha) lies to the west of Mtimiko [sic] village along the Newala to Mtwara road and is know to local people as ‘Shamba ya Bibi’. It is bordered along its northern edge by the valley of the Mutumnudi river.

Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. Little is known of the birds of the area, but Circaetus fasciolatus has been recorded and is widespread in the hinterland of Mtwara town (which may indicate that substantial patches of forest remain in the area). Three species of the East African Coast biome are known to occur, and more may be expected to do so.

Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mtwara District Coastal Forests (Tanzania). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mtwara-district-coastal-forests-iba-tanzania on 23/11/2024.