Mialo Kwamtoro National Bee Reserves

Mialo kwamtoro Bee Reserve is one among the National Bee Reserves in the country established and being declared through a Government Notice (G.N.) number 291 of March 29 2020. Mialo kwamtoro bee reserve was established in line with the operationalization of the National Beekeeping Policy of 1998 that put emphasis on establishment of Bee Reserves. The MBP regards the reserves to be of paramount importance in beekeeping and bee resources development in Tanzania for ensuring existence of honey bees and other bee resources sustainably. The MBP emphasizes that Bee Reserves are established and operationalized under ownership of individuals, Non-Governmental Organizations, Local Government Authorities and Central Government. With regard to ownership, the Mialo kwamtoro Bee Reserve is a Central government owned.

 

Location and legal status; the reserve is found in Chemba district in Dodoma region. Chemba district lies between 5° 14′ 34″ S and 35° 53′ 24″ E with general altitude ranging from 1200 to 1500 meters above sea level. Mialo kwamtoro National Bee Reserve (MNBR) lies between 784244 and 780292 Easting and between 9442093 and 9438967 Northings coordinates. The reserve has survey map Job No JB 2937 of 2019. It is at a distance of about 130 km from Kondoa town southwest, about 90km from Chemba town westwards via Kwamtoro village (division) and about 34km from Kondoa town via swagaswaga game reserve. Mialo kwamtoro Bee Reserve is bordered by Swagaswaga game reserve in the South and East, Mialo village forest reserve in the west and Lahoda village in the North.

MNBR has got about 608 Ha (6.08 Km2) and has a boundary of 10.492 Km long. MNBR was declared to be a National Bee Reserve in March, 2020 and Gazetted through Government Notice (GN) No 291 of 2021. It is owned by the Central Government under care of Tanzania Forest Services Agency.

Vegetation; Mialo kwamtoro National Bee Reserves is mainly characterizes by Miombo woodland and different species of herbs that possess an immeasurable significance in terms of the conservation of biodiversity. The vegetation presents a complex interspersion of cover type and a huge variety of plant species. Throughout most of Mialo kwamtoro bee reserve, undercover vegetation form complex irregular trees and herbs. The reserve area is dominated by Brachystegia spp and various species of herbs. The presence of various species of Brachystegia, acacia, shrubs and herbs have great influence on bees and beekeeping thus makes the area ideal place for establishment of a Bee Reserve.

The dominant tree species for Mialo kwa mtoro include but not limited to Acacia tortillis, Albizia spp (Rain tree), Vitex doniana (Black plums), Acacia meansii (Black wattle trees), Brachystegia spiciformis (zebra wood) and Andansonia digitata (Bao baob tree).

The shrubs cover is dominated by Coursetia caribae Acacia Senegal (Gum Arabic tree), Euonymus japonicas, Dalbegia lanceolaria, Adenanthera pavonina (coral wood), As by (Google species identifier – pl@ntnet application)

The herb cover is dominated by Bidens tripartita L. and Commelina erecta (check weed), Ipomea indica (blue down flower), Agastache rugosa (blue fortune), Sanguisorba officinalis (Burnet blood wort), Coreopsis verticillata (thread leaf coreopsis), Blephans linariifolia, Mercurialis annua L. (Annual mercury), viburnum rhytidophyllum Hems ( leather leaf viburnum), Oenothera spp, Angeratum conyzoides L. (tropical white weed), Bophytum sensitium (little tree pant), Vernonia baldwinii. The above vegetation mentioned provides shelter to small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.

Most of these plant species produce flowers which secrete nectar and others produce pollen or both nectar and pollen. This makes the area potential for beekeeping as one of the economic activities in the area.

Activities; Communities surrounding the reserve  predominantly belonging to Sandawe and Nyaturu ethnics engagig in Livestock keeping, agriculture, Poultry and beekeeping as well which form main activities for their livelihood. Originally the communities of these areas especially Sandawe were hunters and gatherers for their subsistence. 

Mialo Kwamtoro Bee reserve possess a good opportunities of carrying out research and learning to various scholars and students as well as demonstration on beekeeping matters to communities and private people.