Biodiversity and Universal Value The Udzungwa and Uluguru regions of the Eastern Arc Mountains are currently under consideration for designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. World Heritage Sites are declared by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization as having “outstanding universal value” according to a list of four criteria. The Eastern Arc Mountains meet all of the criteria: an area of exceptional natural beauty, significant geologic importance, an example of important evolutionary processes, and containing important endangered species or wild lands. There are 911 sites on the World Heritage List, consisting of 704 cultural sites, 180 natural sites and 21 mixed sites. The bid has been in process for the past fourteen years and was backed in an appeal to Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete by ten local and international NGOs, including ARC’s field partner the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG). Last month, Kikwete withheld the nomination,  stating his concern that the bid would impede local development in the Eastern Arc Mountains and could potentially hurt local livelihoods. On the other hand, supporters of the bid believe that the designation as a World Heritage Site would bring international recognition to an environmentally biodiverse hotspot, named by Conservation International as one of the ten most threatened forest hotspots. Continuing with the designation would also give Tanzania a reputation for valuing its natural capital and the increase in tourism may actually bring economic benefits. Executive Director of TFCG, Charles Meshack, stated, “The nominated site is restricted to areas that are already reserved under Tanzanian law and does not include any village land, general land or forest reserves,” indicating that heritage site status would not impede on local governance or land rights. Regardless of the potential for the nomination bid to be recast, the Eastern Arc Mountains remain as a site of natural wonder – one that deserves international attention and continued conservation efforts. While only 11 percent of these forests still survive today, the Eastern Arc is home to 3,500 plant species of which 450 species and 40 genera are endemic, or found nowhere else in the world. These mountains are also home to 50 endemic amphibian species, over 30 endemic reptile species and over 21 endemic bird species. In addition, the kipunji (Rungwecebus kipunji) was discovered in these mountains in 2003, the first new monkey species to be discovered in Africa in twenty years! You can learn more about the tentative nomination here. What do you think? Would designating these mountains as a world heritage site help or hinder their conservation? Leave a comment below to let us know.                                                      

Kihansi Spray Toad (Nectophrynoides asperginis)              

     Kipunji (Rungwecebus kipunji) Sources: All Africa Conservation International IUCN  Mongabay