Three new species and one new subspecies are described in Barleria sect. Somalia (Acanthaceae) from western Tanzania and their affinities are discussed. The conservation status of each species is evaluated.

The dung beetle fauna of the subfamily Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) occurring in the Laikipia District of Kenya was surveyed. A total of 79 species were found which are diagnosed, keyed, and known dung preferences discussed. Seven species are new records for Kenya, namely Allogymnopleurus indigaceous, Copris denticulatus, Euoniticellus parvus, Gymnopleurus reichei, Oniticellus egregius, Oniticellus pseudoplanatus and Sisyphus tibialis.

A floristic composition and structure study of the Mana Angetu Forest was carried out between July 2003 and June 2004 at four sites of the forest with an altitudinal range of 1533–2431 m. Three transects, 750 meters apart from each other, were established at each site from ridge top of the mountain to the bottom where human interference is low. A total of 81, 30 × 30 m quadrats were established at every 50 m altitudinal drop. For shrub and herbaceous layers 5 × 5 m and 2 × 2 m subplots were established respectively, within the main quadrats. Data on species occurring cover abundance, diameter at breast height and numbers of individuals per species were collected from each quadrat. A total of 211 species belonging to 173 genera and 75 families were identified. Shrubs were represented by 33% of the species collected, followed by herbs (27%) and trees (23%). Seven clusters were recognized from the TWINSPAN output and the communities were named after 2 to 3 dominant species in each cluster. The contribution of trees with DBH>2 cm for the total tree density was 49%, whereas that of DBH>10 cm and 20 cm was 35% and 17%, respectively. The total basal area of the forest was 94m²/ha. Analysis of Importance Value Index indicated that Vepris dainellii had the highest value (79). The population structure showed that there is a need for conservation priority of species with poor regeneration. The presence of natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the forest causes concerns for its conservation and sustainable utilization.

Six new Metarbelidae are described. Photographs of the adults, illustrations of their wing venation and genitalia, as well as information on the floristic composition of their habitats, are presented. Five species are from Tanzania, which include Metarbela lornadepewae spec. nov. from Mufindi (Udzungwa Mountains), Ortharbela jurateae spec. nov., Lebedodes ianrobertsoni spec. nov. and Lebedodes leifaarviki spec. nov. from Morogoro (Uluguru Mountains) and Ortharbela cliftoni spec. nov. from Amani (East Usambara Mountains). Paralebedella shimonii spec. nov. from Marenji Forest (Kenyan Coast) is the first described species of the genus Paralebedella for Kenya, and considered to be very rare. At least five genera and ten species occur in Morogoro and its surroundings which is a very high diversity of Metarbelidae. A characteristic feature of the Morogoro sites is the occurrence of at least four Lebedodes species. This is 16% of Lebedodes known from the Afrotropical Region (including undescribed species) and the highest diversity for a single locality. It appears to be due to the presence of miombo characterized by the dominance of leguminous trees of the genera Brachystegia, Julbernardia and/or Isoberlinia. The distribution pattern of the Metarbelidae from the Afrotropical Region, Madagascar and via the Arabian Peninsula into the Oriental Region is presented. There appears to be evidence for ancient (probably Cretaceous), relictual taxa.

Tropical deforestation contributes to atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, linked to global climate change. In response, emerging markets for carbon emission offsets offer developing nations added incentives for rehabilitation and reforestation that increase terrestrial carbon storage. The Lower Tana River forests of northern Kenya are floodplain forest fragments supported by the river's groundwater and flooding. They provide numerous ecosystem services to local communities and habitat to endangered primates, but are vulnerable to altered hydrological conditions and clearance for cultivation. Forest carbon storage was sampled in the Tana River National Primate Reserve (TRNPR) and Tana Delta Irrigation Project (TDIP) and satellite imagery was used to assess land cover changes from 1992 to 2003. Riverine forest types had carbon densities ranging from 160 to 240 Mg C.ha⁻¹. Levee forests stored about 70 Mg C.ha⁻¹ more than forests further from the river, which may be transitioning to woodland savannah. A net loss of forest and woodland cover was seen in the satellite imagery and ongoing felling and clearance was seen in the field at both sites. Results indicated loss of carbon storage at both sampled sites, which may continue without efforts to increase landscape carbon stocks.

Indigenous knowledge on the use and conservation of medicinal plants by the Hehe ethnic group in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania was documented through literature review, ethnobotanical survey, open-ended interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, village meetings and field observations. Twelve villages and 42 traditional healers were involved. At each village eight field transects were established. Eighty three medicinal plant species in 50 families were recorded. Medicines were extracted from one species or a mixture of several. Bark, roots, leaves, flowers, fruits and whole plants were used to prepare medicines. Traditional methods of conserving medicinal plants include social control of access (sacred groves), domestication, sustainable collecting and storage. Eastern Arc Mountains endemics are rarely used. Compared to other studies in the Eastern Arc Mountains, the number of overlapping medicinal plant species in different mountain blocks is less than 25% and those that do overlap are used for different purposes by various ethnic groups.