2 November 2008
Arusha — Slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, are on fire. The fierce fire that is threatening the ecosystem of the mountain is blamed on poachers who have been prowling the conserved vast areas of Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA).
The fire, according to KINAPA officials started on Monday in an area known as Masheu Keryo in Rombo district and was fanned by wind to cover a larger area. By Tuesday the ravaging fire was approaching Horombo station which is about 3,720 metres above sea level.
KINAPA's Chief Conservator Nyamakumbati Mafuru told reporters the fire was initially being fanned by wind towards the direction of Mawenzi peak but rains helped to douse it.
Reports indicate that the fire had already dwelt its ravages on the rims of Wona gorge and was approaching Mandara area.
A team of Fire fighters from KINAPA had established a camp as their detachment base to fight the fire and the Tanzanian National Parks headquarters has sent a special aircraft to the area to locate spots affected by the fire and assist in the coordination of the fire fighting efforts. Tanapa's Director General Gerald Bigurube told the Arusha Times on Thursday that about 380 people had been mobilized to fight the fire.
He said it was too early to estimate the extent of damage caused by the fire or to establish its cause.
Tourist activities are however going on as usual by the time we went to press.
In late August and early September 2006 about 36 square kilometers of vegetation of mount Kilimanjaro were destroyed by fire that was also blamed on poachers. The fire raged for almost two weeks and caused severe environmental damage.
Booby-traps left behind by poachers had indicated the cause of the fire. Poachers roam forests and mountains to kill animals for trophy or sales of their meat.
It was estimated through aerial and map surveys that the 2006 fire-destroyed area was some 3,000 meters above sea level but away from the Kilimanjaro climbing routes.
The fire caused damage to the Rombo water catchment area.
The Tanzania National Parks then spent 15 million shillings on putting out the fire. TANAPA then set up "base camps" in nearby villages as watch-out posts for possible future fire outbreaks on the mountain. According to Bigurube, however, one of the most devasting fires on the mountain was in 2004.
Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest mountain, standing at 5, 895 meters above sea level. An average of 40,000 foreigners come to climb the mountain each year.
The mountain is a Biosphere reserve and a world heritage site, the same as Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.
Most of the rare and endemic flora of Tanzania is found in the mountain forests. Mount Kilimanjaro has a rich and diverse flora, which includes over 1,800 species of flowering plants and 700 species of lower plants.
For generations Kilimanjaro has been a major source of clean and safe drinking water. Small farm holders use the for irrigation and it is also a power generating source for the National Grid.
Kilimanjaro Mountain has attracted visitors for various reasons, including tourism and has therefore, become an important source of foreign earnings for Tanzania.
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