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Maize crops grow on the hillside
Much of the Eastern Usambara Mountains were deforested for tea in the 1800 and early 1900's. This plantation remains active today. While the landscape is breathtaking, the loss of forests has been devastating for local economies because of reduced agriculture productivity, migrant working populations, increased disease etc... Today, remaining tracts of land are being organized into consolidated blocks and reforestation efforts are underway. Agroforestry is practiced which helps maintain deforestation rates. However, today deforestation continues in order to make up for reduced agriculture productivity and to supply wood for cooking and other energy needs.
Maize crops grow on the hillside
Much of the Eastern Usambara Mountains were deforested for tea in the 1800 and early 1900's. This plantation remains active today. While the landscape is breathtaking, the loss of forests has been devastating for local economies because of reduced agriculture productivity, migrant working populations, increased disease etc... Today, remaining tracts of land are being organized into consolidated blocks and reforestation efforts are underway. Agroforestry is practiced which helps maintain deforestation rates. However, today deforestation continues in order to make up for reduced agriculture productivity and to supply wood for cooking and other energy needs.