Saving Kenya’s Forests

Category: Forest loss | Date: Feb 14 2008 | By: admin

The Daily Nation reports that loggers have taken advantage of the post-election violence to venture into Forest Reserves in Keiyo, Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, Baringo, Nandi North and South districts. Some forests were set on fire and hundreds of hectares were destroyed. Baringo district commissioner Hassan Fara says the Government lost more than Sh2 million in the last two weeks of violence through illegal logging and burning of public forests. Area district forestry officer Daniel Too says illegal loggers took advantage of the violence to invade Katimok forest and cut down the endangered sandalwood trees, among other species. You can read more here

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Category: Conservation, Hotline message | Date: Feb 11 2008 | By: admin

On 23rd January 2008, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Kenya Forests Working Group (KFWG) and the Ewaso Ngiro South Development Authority (ENSDA) conducted an aerial survey to determine the status of some of the Mau Complex forest blocks following complaints that there was increased forest destruction after the disputed 2007 December presidential elections. A 13 seater Caravan aircraft was gratuitously made available by Boskovic. The aircraft flew over four forest blocks namely: Maasai Mau, Ol Pusimoru, Transmara and South West Mau. Government officials from Narok North District, Narok District Forest Office, Narok District Environmental Office, Ewaso Ngiro South Development Authority, accompanied officers from UNEP, KFWG and the Narok County Council participated in the aerial survey. The survey consisted of flying at low altitude above the southern and eastern Maasai Mau boundary, the Maasai Mau/Ol Pusimoru boundary, the north-eastern and south-western Transmara boundaries, the 2001 excision boundary in South West Mau, and the western part of Maasai Mau in Narok South District. All forest destructive activities were recorded by GPS, digital camera and video.

Results of the aerial survey can be found in a report posted on the Kenya Forests Working Group website. In brief the survey revealed that there is increased intensity in settlement and logging particularly of Podo within the Maasai Mau, which has also increased encroachment through settlement into Ol Pusimoru along the Ol Pusimoru/Maasai Mau forest boundary. A large section of S W Mau forest degazetted in 2001 is now completely settled and there is encroachment beyond the boundary. The Transmara has had incidences of fire, some limited logging of Podo is taking place and in some cases nearby tea plantations are encroaching into SW and Transmara forests.

The above report was presented to partners in Narok and to the Director and senior staff of the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). In response, the Narok County Council has allocated Kshs 4 million to start demarcation of forest boundaries of the Maasai Mau forest (the most affected forest block in the Mau complex, which is managed by the council). The KFS agreed to send 200 forest guards to the gazetted Ol Pusimoru Forest Reserve that is managed by KFS. Further aerial assessments of the forests are being arranged.

KFWG is most grateful to Cap. Watts/Boskovic air for facilitating the flight.

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Category: Forest loss, Kenya's unique people | Date: Feb 11 2008 | By: admin

Kenya’s forests, just as its people, have felt the impact of the violence that followed the disputed 2007 elections. The National Geographic reported that the forest dwelling Ogieks have been threatened and some members have lost lives as a direct result of the violence. The National Geographic says, “The Ogiek, best known for their traditional methods of beekeeping, have become caught up in ethnic clashes following the vote, resulting in the deaths of nine tribal members at the hands of police, according to leaders. The killings may have been retribution for the tribe’s support for opposition candidate Raila Odinga, leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), in the recent election, tribal officials say.”

Elsewhere in Bomet, the Daily Nation (18 January 2008) reports that more than 2,000 exotic and indigenous trees worth more than Sh1.2 million have been destroyed by illegal loggers.

“Bomet District forest officer William Cheptoo said the loggers had taken advantage of the post-election violence to deplete the Chepalungu government gazetted forest. He explained that the forest was left unguarded after forest guards fled.Three months ago, members of the local community said to have opposed the conservation of the forest, invaded Chelelach forest station, which is part of the expansive Chepalungu forest block, and killed a forest guard. Speaking to journalists in his Bomet town office Thursday, Mr Cheptoo said the loggers were extracting timber and fencing poles from the felled trees.
More than 100,000 tree seedlings planted six months ago were uprooted, he added.”

And today, the Daily Nation reports that a forest in Nyeri district has become the dumping ground for bodies by unidentified killers. The killings are unrelated to the post elections violence.

We are saddened by the loss of lives and the terrible impact the violence is having on the country, its people, its economy, resources and its future. We pray along with all Kenyans that a solution will be found soon.

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Category: Conservation | Date: Feb 05 2008 | By: admin

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has invited the public to submit comments on an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study Report for a project (Nairobi Water and Sewerage Emergency Physical Investment Project (NWSEPIP) Package 3) which will transverse the edge of Karura Forest and also go through Ngong Forest.

KFWG has seen the EIA, which is available at NEMA, Popo Road off Mombasa road, for anyone who wishes to have a look at it.

From the EIA, we have noted that the following:

The EIA report indicates that the project area includes among others indigenous trees like the “Muhugu”, Newtonia buchananii (mukoi), Trichilia roke (mutuati), Olea Africana, Croton dichogamus and Brachylaena hutchinsii in the two forests. For Karura Forest, the water and sewerage lines commences in Gigiri area and moves south westerly along the edges of Karura Forest through Kibagare to Kabete Reservoir in Loresho. For Ngong Road Forest, the report indicates that the line crosses the Nairobi – Kisumu railway line into Ngong Forest. The lines emerges and moves parallel to the Ngong Road but inside the forests across the proposed southern by-pass and the Nairobi – Eldoret oil pipeline. Still parallel to the Ngong Road, the lines terminates at Karen Township.

We have noted that clearance of forest vegetation along the water and sewerage line in both Karura and Ngong Road forests is stated as inevitable. Further vegetation clearance is also likely to occur from access routes to the line from the main road, construction of work area and stores. It is also important to note that the extent of any forest clearance and its impacts is not mentioned in the EIA report. Another concern is that key forest stakeholders including Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary Trust were not consulted according to the list provided in the report.

Considering the importance of Ngong Road and Karura forests, KFWG has made objections to the current layout proposal on the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Emergency Physical Investment Project (NWSEPIP) and has recommended that;

1. The physical layout of the water and sewerage line be re-evaluated to minimize/stop any forest vegetation clearing to the two forests.
2. The extent of any forest vegetation be outlined in the EIA report before any licenses is issued.
3. The views of key forest stakeholders including Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary, KFWG and others be sought and included in the EIA report before any license is issued.

Ngong road and Karura forests are the two most important indigenous remnant forests in the densely populated Nairobi City. These two forests are important catchment forest areas, offer recreation facilities to Nairobi residents and purify the polluted air from motor vehicles and industries around the city. These forests have been under a lot of pressure for private development in the recent past, which have successfully been resisted on the grounds of their importance. Clearance of any parts of these already threatened forests by any other means will only aggravate the situation.

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