Saving Kenya’s Forests

Category: Forest loss, Hotline message | Date: Nov 26 2007 | By: admin

Sorry to be bring you more bad news.

We have received some information about the continued destruction in Rumuruti forest. Below are excerpts from part of the report:

Rumuruti Forest Reserve (6,217.8 hectares) straddles Salama and Marmanet locations, North- East of Nyhururu town, Laikipia West District. The forest extends along a large section of the Uaso Narok River, the main tributary of the Uaso Ngiro.

The forest is a dry upland forest with podocarpus occurring along the Uaso Narok River. The forest was once intact with a closed canopy comprised of the following dominant species: Juniperus procera, olea europea ssp africana, Podocarpus latifolius, Podocarpus falcatus, Warburgia salutaris, Prunus africana, Cassipourea malosana, Trichocladus ellipticus, Vepris simplicifolia, Ficus thoningii, Calodenrum capense.

On the 25 November, 2007 we walked a recce transect for approximately one hour up the East bank of the Uaso Narok river, starting not far from the old forest station, and then walked for another hour South on the West bank walking North to where we started. We recorded recently felled trees and trees in the process of being cut.

Results
The felling of large podo and cedar trees on our two-hour walk was extensive. Most of the destruction of large mature podo trees was on both banks of the Uaso Narok River from the old forest station going north. This felling was extremely recent with some trees being felled as we walked, suggesting massive demand and a complete break down in law enforcement. There were also older signs of forest destruction and the overall pattern is fairly typical, with Olive trees targeted initially (for charcoal), then cedar and podo. Not a single mature Olive tree was seen during our survey.

Our informants told us that timber from the podo trees is being sold locally in Rumuruti town, mostly for furniture making. Apparently one podo tree cut and split will be sold for Ksh 1,000/=. The cedar trees are being cut up for basic fence posts and for sale as timber.

Species being destroyed
West bank of Uaso Narok River
• Juniperus procera (cedar) 19 mature trees cut down
• Podocarpus falcatus (podo) none seen.

East bank of Uaso Narok River
• Juniperus procera (cedar) 41 mature trees cut down
• Podocarpus falcatus (podo) 22 mature trees cut down
• Podocarpus falcatus 3 in the process of being cut.

Other species damaged
• Prunus africana - we noticed many large stumps of trees cut in the last 5-10 years. Very few standing trees seen.
• Olea europea ssp africana - tremendous damage to the olive population. All the stumps seen were in large areas all along the river. The stumps were at least 3-4 ft in diameter. These trees were all burnt to make charcoal.
• Warburgia salutaris - There were several very large stumps of Warburgia cut several years ago. We recorded very few young trees coming up. No mature trees seen.

Conclusion
The forest is a critical catchment of the Uaso Narok River, on which many of the residents of West Laikipia District and onto Samburu District depend. At the current rate of the felling, there will be no mature trees standing in a year’s time. This forest has a chance to regenerate if the destruction can be stopped immediately. There are many saplings of the key species growing; some of them are at least 7-10 ft tall.

The Rumuruti Forest Association was set up with the help of the Kenya Forests Working Group in 2001. This is comprised of some very dedicated members who live around the forest reserve. However they are unable to do anything about the current level of destruction as they do not have the capacity or resources to enforce the forest, which they are dedicated to protecting.

Suggested action
Law enforcement is needed immediately to stop any further illegal logging.

A perimeter electric fence would help protect what remains of the forest, and would reduce human elephant conflict, a major source of grievance among the people surrounding the forest.

We are putting this up for information. Follow up action is being taken.