The Rufiji River Delta is the 2nd largest river delta in Africa and a focal point for many land use, deforestation and environmental problems that are associated with activities in both the upstream and floodplain. The MRTF consists of ~10,000 ha in the northern portion of the Delta and is representative of mangroves found across Tanzania and East Africa.  The boundary encompasses not only undisturbed mangrove, but also zones where there has been degradation due to anthropogenic activities. The Rufiji MRTF is sanctioned by an agreement between Tanzania Forest Services and the Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam.