Valuing the Arc

V aluing the Arc (VTA) was a research programme that ran from 2007 to 2012 and mapped, modelled and valued ecosystem services within and flowing from the Eastern Arc Mountains, with the objective of informing decisions for sustainable management of the remaining natural habitats. The services we focused on were carbon, water, nature-based tourism, timber and non-timber forest products (charcoal, firewood, poles and thatch). Biodiversity modelling and calculation of the various costs of conservation were also undertaken to provide context. All services were mapped and modelled based on land cover and population around the year 2000, and hence this is a somewhat historical view of the service values as Tanzania’s economy has changed rapidly over the recent years.