Kawetire forest plantation is located in the Mbeya district, Mbeya Region and is in the North Usafwa and part of the Mbeya Range Forest Reserves. The forest plantation is on the northern and north eastern part of the Municipality of Mbeya and can be reached through Mbeya – Chunya tarmac road, which passes through this plantation. The plantation office is 12.7 km along this road. The first plantations were established in 1937 at Ipinda in the North Usafwa Forest Reserve whereby Cuppressus lustanica and Eucalyptus maidenii for construction timber and poles in the Gold mine at Chunya. Later on other species like Pinus patula, Pinu radiata and Pinus canariensis were introduced.

Geographically, Kawetire Forest plantation is located in highlands areas, thus the plantation receives rainfall at an average of 1,099 mm annually. As other forest plantations, Kawetire forest plantation is divided into six ranges namely Kawetire, Ipinda, Mbeya Peak, Mbeya Fuelwood, Karuwe and Lwanjiro. Kawetire Range covers a total area of 1,100 ha including unplantable area of about 293.8 ha and the rest is planted with Pinus patula. Ipinda Range has the total area of 1,707 ha. This includes 614 ha which is planted with Pinus patula and Eucalyptus meidenii while 1093 ha is natural forests Mbeya Peak range has a total of 438 ha with Pinus patula stand. Mbeya fuel wood has a total of 67 ha formally planted with Eucalyptus sp but the area is proposed to be investment area. Karuwe Range has a total area of 1,230.4 ha. Out of this, 295 ha is planted with Pinus patula, 404 ha still not planted and 531 ha being covered by natural forests. On the other hand, the Lwanjiro Range occupies 638.8 ha whereby 574.23 ha is planted with Pinus patula while 64.7 ha is natural forests.

Table 1: Area distribution by Ranges and land use category in Kawetire Forest Plantation

NB: Lwanjiro range has new extension areas of 3485 Ha (North Usafwa Extension Area) in which 347 Ha has been planted, 560 Ha proposed areas to be planted and 2,578 Ha will be reserved as a natural Forest.

Kawetire Forest plantation being situated on higher elevation is used as a view point. The road from Mbeya to Chunya has an area of the highest altitude where the highway crosses at 2961 meters. This is the highest Point in Tanzania.

Also because of its beautiful scenery makes various choir and drama groups to visit the plantation for photographing as well as video shootings.

The plantation is a source of various water sources such as Maji Mazuri, Sibungu, Lyanzi, Hove and Meta which drain water towards Chunya, Rukwa and Ruaha basin as well as Kawetire vicinities and Mbeya city.

The area of Mbeya fuel wood will be another best place that will attract many visitors and investors as soon as the process of transforming the land use to an investment area is completed.

For more information please contact

Plantation Manager

Kawetire Forest Plantation

P.O.Box 770

Mbeya

Email: kawetire@tfs.go.tz