Bird Diversity Of The Coastal Forests Of Eastern Africa Biodiversity Hotspot

Abstract

The coastal forests of Eastern Africa are home to five endemic forest birds and several nonforest species of the East Coast Biome utilizing or found in adjacent and associated habitats including offshore islands. The Pemba Island in Tanzania hosts four endemic nonforest birds, and by itself an Endemic Bird Area. The inseparable connectivity of the Coastal Forests with adjoining forest ecosystems is evidenced by a huge number of forest dependent bird species shared among them especially with the Eastern Arc Mountains. Moreover, the lowland forests serve as corridor habitats linking forests in the north with those in extreme southeastern Tanzania; the East African Spotted Ground Thrush race, fischeri, breeds in Rondo forest, southern Tanzania and winters in the coastal forests in northern Tanzania and Kenya coast. Despite their significance for conservation of endemic, rare and threatened species, these forests are threatened by encroachment, urbanization, wildfire, infrastructure development, and unsustainable use of forest resources. This chapter outlines several aspects to be included in any conservation strategy to sustainably manage the coastal forests and their characteristic avifauna.