The flora of Tanzania is equally as diverse as the
animal population. The eastern arc is represented by small patches of
tropical rainforest which host an array of indigenous plant life. These
tropical rainforests once covered Tanzania, but today are relegated to
the Udzungwas and the Ulugurus Mountains among other places. Outside of
the mountain ranges, the country is covered by miombo, or moist
woodland. There are also plains, savannahs and wooded hills, however,
the most common vegetation found in Tanzania are various types of
Brachystegia trees.
Recent years have seen steps taken by the
Tanzania National Parks Authority to encourage conservation. One of the
main goals is to encourage community involvement in preservation
efforts. Conservation areas including national parks and reserves cover
more than 42,000 square kilometres (16,000 square miles), making up
one-third of the country’s territory. Poaching has proven to be a major
challenge in Tanzania and the government has responded to this problem
through wildlife law enactment and enforcement. Anti-poaching operations
have been put into place with the aid of both international and local
agencies. Tanzanians are also working to bridge the gap between wildlife
conservation and the needs of local communities who depend on natural
resources.
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