MERU CATCHMENT FOREST RESERVE

1. LOCATION: 3°15'S 36°45'E
    20 Km north of Arusha, 5 km from Olmotonyi. Access id from Olmotonyi. The reserve covers the outer slopes of Mount Meru in a U-shape, 
    Open to the east, from approximately 1500 - 1800 to 3000m. Arusha National Park covers the crater floor and a corridor to it from the east.

2. CLIMATE
    Oceanic rainfall with continental temperatures. Estimated rainfall: Southwestern slopes up to 2000 mm/year: northern slopes 5 - 600 mm/year: mist 
    effect at higher attitudes. Dry season: June - Oct. Temperatures: mean annual temperature 20 to 17°C.

3. VEGETATION:
    Dry montane forest occurs on the eastern, northwestern and northern slopes at 1500 - 2600m altitude. In the north, it forms the forest line above 
    plantation forest; while on the east is restricted to lower altitudes ( up to 200om). Montane forest occurs on the eastern and western slopes 
    between 1500 and 2400m, and also occupies large areas in Arusha National Park. Small patches of a tall type of montane forest occur in damp 
    valleys on the southern slopes between 1900 and 2400m. In upper montane forest, bamboo thickets cover large areas on the southern wet slopes 
    between 2300 and 2700 m altitude, and Hagenia abyssinca forests occur at 2600 and 3000 metres forming the forest line. Subalphine health and 
    grassland form the  uppermost part vegetation above the forest. Large and productive plantations have been planted on the northern, western and 
    southwestern slopes below the reserve.

3.1 Dry montane forest:
      Canopy open, 20 - 30 m tall dominated by: Juniperus procera and olea europaea subp. africana, with Junipherus and Podocarpus falcatus in the 
      east. The shrub layer is dense. Tall Junipherus procera occur outside forest on ridgetops at 2200 - 2800 m.

3.2 Montane forest:
      Canopy 15-30 m tall with: Albizia gummifera, Calodendrum capense, Cassipouera malosana, Croton macrostachyus, Bersama abyssinica, 
      Diospyros abbyssinca, Ekerbergia capensis, Ficus thonningii, Casearia battiscombei, Dombeya burgessiae, Nuxiacongesta, Olea capensis, 
      Prunusafrican, Teclea nobilis and Xymalos monospra. The shrub layer is usually sparse and the herb layer rich, for example in Impatient. In damp 
      valleys on the southern slopes, emergent to 40 - 50 m tall occur, larger trees include: Entandophragma excelsum, Cornus volkensee, Plyscias 
      fulva, Olea capensis and Podocarpus latifolius. Smaller trees incude: Anthocleista, Tabernaemontana holstii, Lobelia giberroa, Neoboutonia 
      macrocalyx and macara kilimandscharica. Ocotea and Cythea appear of be absent, in contrast to Mt. Kilimanjaro where both are common under 
      similar conditions. This may be related to soil properties.

3.3 Upper montane forest:
      Bamboo thickets  of Sinarundinaria alpina form dense stands 2 - 12 m tall with scaterred emergent broadleaved trees including: Nuxia congesta, 
      cornus volkensii and Schefflera myriantha. Shrubs include: Maesa lanceaolata and Rapanea melanophloeos. The undergrowth is poor in species,
      usually Selaginella kraussiana forms a carpet with abundant Laportea alatipes. Open canopy Hagenia abyssinica forests with kigeria africana and 
      Peddiea fischeri occur between 2600 and 3000 metres forming the forest line. Parochaetus communis, Asplenium loxoscaphoides, Cyperus ajax
      and Plectranthus edulis are common in the undergrowth. Above 2800 m altitude, where the canopy becomes more open, afroalpine elements 
      occur such as Alchemilla johnstonii and kniphofia thomsonii.

3.4 Subalphine heath and grassland
      On wetter southerly slopes above 2888 - 3000 m Erica arborea forms 4 - 8 m tall heaths, which become bushy at 3400m, giving way to alpine  
      Pentaschistes tussock grassland. In wetter areas and on the western slopes in deep valleys, giant groundsels ( sececio johnstonii) and Lobelia 
      deckenii, occur with many oner afroalpind species such as Anemone thomsonii, Disa stairsii, Gladioulus watsonioides and Swertia Kilimanjarica.
      On the drier western, northen and eastern slopes Stoebe Kilimanjarica bushes replance ericaceous heath, with Artemisia afra, Anthospermum
      usambarense and Adenocaprus mannii.

4. CATCHMENT VALUES:
    Rivers flowing southeast join the Ruvu river flowing to Nyumba ya Mungu dam, and then to the pangani river and Hale Hydropwer station. 
    Seasonal rivers flow on the north eastern side. The reserve supplies water to Arusha town and many settlements in the dry but densely inhabited  
    Arumeru District where it is used for irrigation of coffee and banana plantations, and water supply to the inhabitants and large cattle population.

5. BIODIVERSITY:
    Junipherus and Podocarpus stands are important as seed trees. The Hagenia forests and subalpine Erica heaths are rich in species of restricted 
    distribution and rare afroalpine species.

6. AMENITY VALUES:
    The height of Mt. Meru proximity to Arusha ( a center for tourism industry in Tanzania ) offers substantial ecotoursim potential. The forests have 
    several footpaths, abundant vegetation, big valleys, birds, animals and some water falls which make one enjoy the wonders of creation.