**4.1. Conclusions**

The study area was heterogeneous site composed of plain, escarpment and strongly dissected plateau in West Usambara Mountains, with different geology, landforms and soils types. The three geomorphic units have different plant and animal species – plain with shrubs and thickets which decline with increasing elevation while trees increase with increasing elevation from upper part of the escarpment to mountainous in the plateau. The geomorphological setting of the area has had the influence on plant and animal (small mammal) species spatial distribution. Abiotic factors explaining spatial distribution of plant species are landform characteristics including elevation, slope gradient and topsoil soil depth which have positive coefficients indicating that as factors increases so do plant species. There are factors negatively hindering spatial distribution including cultivation, which involve vegetation clearing, atmospheric temperatures and surface stones. Factors influencing spatial distribution of small mammals (animals) are elevation, surface stones, rock outcrop and cultivation. These factors signify favourable atmosphere, safe havens and food availability for small mammal to flourish. Most of the factors influencing both plant and animal species apart from cultivation, which involves deforestation or vegetation clearing are natural.

#### **4.2. Recommendations**

The factors influencing spatial distribution of plant and animal species in West Usambara Mountains have been established which are natural: elevation, atmospheric temperature, soil depth and slope gradients. The only factor, which is manmade, is cultivation which is negatively related to plant species but encourages spatial distribution of small mammals. Therefore, for conservation purposes, it is recommended that the best undertaking is stopping human activities leading to depletion of plant species and allow for self-regeneration. Facilitating control of erosion in steep slope areas is also recommended as way of plant species re-establishment. Land clearing for farming need to be control and establish a balance between human and ecologically acceptable land clearing considering that both farming and nature conservation are needed.
