Conserving one of Africa's most extraordinary forest ecosystems, where nature and communities thrive together.
ExploreMACCO operates primarily in the Udzungwa Mountains of south-central Tanzania, part of the globally recognized Eastern Arc Mountains and one of Earth's most important biodiversity hotspots.
Ancient montane rainforests, lowland forests, woodlands and grasslands create an exceptional mosaic of ecosystems supporting extraordinary biodiversity. Nearly half of Tanzania's endemic vertebrates occur within this landscape, making Udzungwa one of Africa's most ecologically valuable yet least explored forest systems.
Healthy ecosystems provide water, sustain agriculture, regulate climate, and contribute to nearly a quarter of Tanzania's national energy production. For local communities, conservation means food security, resilience and better livelihoods.
Since 2024, MACCO has implemented the Udzungwa Landscape Strategy (ULS), bringing together communities, protected areas, researchers and institutions to secure long-term biodiversity conservation through integrated landscape management.
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