The Usambara mountains of north-eastern Tansania are inhabited by the Sambaa. The area used to be covered by one of the richest forests in the whole Africa. The Sambaa developed an efficient method of cultivation but the colonists established new programmes which destroyed the forest due to the western type of agriculture. The population continues rising but there is a lack of agricultural products. Nevertheless there are some farmers who have gone back to the old methods that respect the ancient ecological circles. The film gives a picture of the environmental and socio-economic features of the Usambara mountains pointing out the historical aspect and the current situation.