[Analysis of Civil Engineering Surveying In Mountainous Region]

By

Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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ABSTRACT

The Eastern Arc Mountains are renown in Africa for high concentrations of endemic species of animals and plants. Thirteen separate mountain blocks comprise the Eastern Arc, supporting around 3300 km2 of sub-montane, montane and upper montane forest, less than 30% of the estimated original forested area. At least 96 vertebrate species are endemic, split as follows: 10 mammal, 19 bird, 29 reptile and 38 amphibian species. This includes four endemic or nearly endemic species of primate - the Sanje Mangabey, the Iringa Red Colobus, the Mountain Galago and the new Kipunji monkey that forms its own monotypic genus. A further 71 vertebrate species are near-endemic. At least 800 vascular plant species are endemic, almost 10% of these being trees. These endemics include the majority of the species of African violet - Saintpaulia, a well-known flowering plant inWestern households.

An additional 32 species of bryophytes are also endemic. Many hundreds of invertebrates are also likely to be endemic, with data for butterflies, millipedes and dragonflies indicating potential trends in importance. Seventy-one of the endemic or near-endemic vertebrates are threatened by extinction (8 critical, 27 endangered, 36 vulnerable), with an additional seven wide ranging threatened species. Hundreds of plant species are also threatened.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW5

Definition of the Eastern Arc mountains5

Forest Categorisation7

Reserved Areas8

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY10

Remaining Habitat10

Vertebrate11

Trees12

Analysis of Biodiversity Priority13

Correlation Between Biological Importance And Forest Area13

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS14

Forest Area Assessment14

Eastern Arc Endemic Species14

Vertebrates14

Trees15

Threatened species in the Eastern Arc mountains15

Vertebrates15

Trees16

Biodiversity Priorities16

Vertebrates16

Trees19

Relationship between Vertebrate Species Importance and Forest Area20

Vertebrate20

Trees21

Relationship between Vertebrate Species Importance and Forest Area22

CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION23

Additional Endemic Vertebrates And Plants23

Endemism in other Taxonomic Groups24

Invertebrates24

Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)25

Lepidoptera (Butterflies and moths)25

Millipedes26

Bryophytes26

Possible reasons for the exceptional rates of endemism27

The Arc is as a Centre of Speciation27

The Eastern Arc is as an area where species avoid extinction28

Conservation Priorities30

Conservation Issues31

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION35

REFERENCES39

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

An estimated one-tenth of the human population derive their life-support directly from mountains. Yet, mountains are important not only for their inhabitants, but for millions of people living in lowlands. At the global scale, mountains' greatest value may be as sources of all the world's major rivers, and many smaller ones. Mountains play a critical role in the water cycle by capturing moisture from air masses; when this precipitation falls as snow, it is stored until it melts in the spring and summer, providing essential water for settlements, agriculture and industries downstream - often during the period of lowest rainfall. In semi-arid and arid regions, over 90 percent of river flow comes from the ...