KENVO wins Equator Prize
Category: Aberdares, Community, Conservation, biodiversity | Date: Nov 24 2008 | By: kenyaforests
Kijabe Environment Volunteers a long time member of KFWG is one of the 25 winners of the prestigious Equator Prize for 2008. The Equator Prize is awarded biennially to recognize and celebrate outstanding community efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The winners were selected from a total pool of 310 nominations from 70 nations.
For more information on the Award see the Equator prize website
“Pass my congratulations to KENVO”, said a KFWG member in an email on learning about KENVO’s win, “It is quite encouraging to hear of such recognition. This shows that they have made an impact which is well above the normal performance. We would like KENVO to share [information] on the initiatives that have rendered this. Well done and keep it up.” Peter Kiptanui, a member of a South Nandi bidoveristy group added, “you are not alone in this moment of joy, so many of us are following in your footsteps and this is [just] a big footprint”.
The Equator prize is a fitting recognition of KENVOs work in and around the Kereita forest. KENVO has been largely responsible for educating the public on the usefulness of the forest and other forests in the Kikuyu escarpment. They have rehabilitated parts of the forest, organized annual tree planting events that involve schools, churches and the community in addition to core projects that the group carries out. You can read more on KENVOs activities on their site here
We add our voice to that of our members and say, “Hongera!”, well done…
Liz
Correcting an Imbalance
Category: Community, Conservation, biodiversity | Date: Oct 08 2008 | By: kenyaforests
Translocation of “predominantly females” to Chawia forest will help avert imminent local extinction of the Taita thrush population there, conservationists say
I remember last year when someone remarked rather dramatically, “I hear they have a shortage of females in Taita”. Seeing the confusion on our faces he added, rather cheekily, “The birds, the Taita Thrush”. I chuckled, thinking, “The birds and the bees didn’t prepare us for this!”
Later, I learnt that the females of Taita Thrush had not been seen or captured in the Chawia forest fragment of the Taita hills for the past four years - despite intensive mist netting - posing something of a problem for the thrush subpopulation there. I filed that fact away, until today when an email announced a translocation initiative to re-stock the forest with females.
Photo: Thrush with transmitter and inset, being ringed. Courtesy of Mwangi Githiru (species guardian)
The Taita Thrush, Turdus helleri, is a forest-dependent endemic bird confined to three forests in the Taita Hills (in the south east of Kenya): Mbololo, Chawia and Ngangao. The forests cover a tiny 342 ha. BirdLife International, which championed an IUCN red listing of the species says in its fact sheet: “The bird is considered Critically Endangered because it has a tiny occupied range, within which its montane forest habitat has been severely fragmented and continues to decline in both extent and quality”. Conservationists are using birds - with the thrush as the flagship species - to champion the conservation of the Taita Hills forests.
According to a previous study by Edward Waiyaki and others (unpublished) on this thrush, Chawia forest was estimated to have a population of 38 individuals, while Ngangao and Mbololo had 250 and 1,060 individuals respectively. Another analysis based on molecular work by Galbusera and others in 2000 gave effective population size estimates of 3-30 in Chawia, 15-150 in Ngangao and 75-750 in Mbololo. In addition to a genetic bottleneck, Chawia’s population shows what ornithologists call “a highly male-biased sex ratio” - only 10% of birds were found to be female.
Now a team is correcting this imbalance by translocating several individuals of the thrush (predominantly females) from Mbololo, which has a larger population - and even sex ratio - to Chawia. Since 2005 the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF) has been funding conservation projects in Taita Hills, which involved rehabilitation of the forest by the local communities and the government. Optimism is high that the ongoing reforestation and planned improvements of connectivity with other fragments and populations of the Taita Hills forests will improve Chawia. However, given the current trend, it is unlikely that the thrush subpopulation in Chawia will survive long enough to benefit from these restoration efforts, making this translocation both necessary and timely.
I have also since learnt that the birds are likely to suffer from genetic inbreeding if they don’t have more numbers of mates. Amazing what you can learn from the birds!
Liz
The East African Wild Life Society (EAWLS) has been running a Taita Hills Project which is focusing on conservation and management of the Taita forests through community participation.
Tags: Taita hills, Taita thrush
Post election violence: Impact on forests in western Kenya
Category: Conservation, Forest loss, Uncategorized | Date: Oct 02 2008 | By: kenyaforests
We are involved in mapping the impact of post election violence on forests in western Kenya. This is part of a project funded by the Finnish Embassy in Kenya, through the WWF East Africa Regional Programme, that is being carried out by five NGOs – WWF, KFWG, Nature Kenya, IUCN and Forest Action Network – and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
Last month we traveled to North and South Nandi forests and parts of the Cherengany ecosystem where the impacts were most felt. There we witnessed destruction of forests plantation through illegal clear - cutting and burning. There were also instances of burning of forest stations and displacement of forest staff. Things are more or less back to normal. However, KFS still has to deal with lack of housing and offices for some of its staff.
Photo: What remains of the Cerengoni forest office
After the mapping, the team will embark on community forums and peace building efforts.
Liz
Kieni Forest’s Huruma village needs attention
Category: Community, Conservation | Date: Sep 30 2008 | By: kenyaforests
In the early nineties about 521 families who had been stopped from farming in the Kieni forest near Thika in Kenya were moved onto a plot within the forest as a temporary measure. More than a decade later the temporary settlement, with its desperate inhabitants, is still in place. It’s called Huruma, the word for pity in Swahili.
The group had fled political unrest in the Rift Valley in the early 90s. They were allowed by Forest officials to participate in the Non Residential Cultivation (NRC) programme, also called the Shamba system - which allows farmers to plant crops and trees on forest land while tending to the young trees - until it was banned by the government. All farmers were asked to leave. Being landless the families had nowhere to go. They lived on the roadside near Thika until the government settled them within the forest while awaiting resettlement elsewhere. They have been here since.
A recent visit by KFWG to Huruma found the squatters still living in hope of re-settlement. Many promises have been made in the past, but none have come to fruition. Politicians have visited and shed tears. Human rights activists have promised immediate action. But the squatters are still here. They can’t farm and are dependent on odd jobs from their neighbors and relief food.
The one thing I learned about the residents of Huruma is that they don’t want to be pitied. They don’t want handouts. They do want to farm and feed themselves. Its time the government looked for alternative settlement for the people of Huruma. And indeed for others elsewhere living as squatters in forests.
Postscript: Modern technology failed us completely in the past few months, hence the scarcity of news on this blog. We have however been visited by the technology fairy and all seems well in forestland for now (well at least on the www). Please feel free to also stop by our brand new website www.kenyaforests.org in the next couple of days. And if you find the fairy hasn’t completed the magic of uploading it yet, go back again the following day, and the next and the one after. It will be up. Promise.
Liz
Making conservation just a little be more “sexy”
Category: Community, Conservation | Date: Jun 10 2008 | By: kenyaforests
That’s what Kijabe Environment Volunteers have been doing!
KENVO as they are more popularly known is a group of young, totally into the environment youth that works around the Kijabe escarpment, with a focus on the Kereita forest. Kereita forest is the southern most part of the Aberdare ranges of Kenya. The group came together in 1994 as Kijabe Young Volunteers to address environmental and forest degradation and other wider social issues such as poverty and HIV.
But its their novel way of approaching environmental conservation that has earned them admiration of their peers and the community in general.
Among the activities that KENVO carries out is celebration of the annual World Environment Day (June 5). But unlike many organizations, KENVO has found ways to involve the public in these celebrations in ways that are not connected to the traditional tree planting and clean-ups. Those do eventually take place, but amid much more excitement.
First it was a marathon. For the past couple of years, members of the community have been encouraged to run in a World Environment Day marathon while also taking part in other activities like music, dancing, exhibitions, tree planting and clean-ups.
This year KENVO introduced a beauty contest - the Miss Environment from Kijabe. I couldn’t believe my ears when team leader David Kuria told me this. But whatever works, this group will use it. I am yet to get pictures of the event but as soon as I have some, I will be sure to post them.
Meanwhile, go on over to the KENVO site and read up on this interesting group.
Liz
More on the Mau
Category: Conservation, Mau | Date: May 28 2008 | By: kenyaforests
KFWG would like to show its support for government efforts to save the Mau. We hope this resolve will not wane.
KFS and communities can learn from Duru Haitemba
Category: Conservation | Date: Apr 21 2008 | By: admin
A community member explains how CBFM is carried out
As part of a Natural Resources Management and Governance course I am attending in Tanzania, I have been fortunate to visit the Babati area to see how communities are managing forest resources. Unlike in Kenya where Participatory Forest Management (PFM) is just being formalized under the Forests Act 2005, Tanzania is way ahead in this area. In Babati we witnessed forest areas that are under full management of communities and those that are under joint management with the Government.
It’s the nature of people to resist change. Although PFM in Kenya has been met with a high degree of enthusiasm, there have been cynical quarters - those people who are convinced that communities are not good managers. I wish everyone had the opportunity to visit Babati. Although there are still challenges, the communities are a good example of what benefits can come out of entrusting a community with the responsibility of looking after its own resources.
Duru Haitemba Community Based Forest Management was the first initiative we visited. Duru Haitemba is one of the few remaining Miombo woodlands in the Babati District. They are located approximately 20km from Babati town. In the early nineties the forest was earmarked for gazettement. The local community representative explained that the forest had become degraded and the forest authorities decided to take action. However, the gazattement caused discontent among the locals. After much dialogue, the situation was resolved by allowing eight (currently nine) villages to take the responsibility of managing the forest.
What we gathered from the local representative was that the community took responsibility for the state of the forest then. However, they collectively decided to look after the forests once they were given authority. This positive attitude caused the government to suspend gazettement. It is also this positive attitude that has resulted in the good the progress made by the community. They came up with structures that have helped them to exploit and reap benefits from the forest while at the same time protecting it. The Tanzanian Government was also willing to devolve powers. The community was empowered and motivated to become the managers of their own resource. This is what PFM in Kenya is proposing and I hope it takes root as it has in Babati.
Daily Nation reports: Poll chaos threat to survival of key water source
Category: Conservation | Date: Mar 11 2008 | By: admin
Publication Date: 3/11/2008
Hundreds of families have illegally invaded Mau Forest, posing grave danger to the environment and wildlife, writes KEN OPALA
Conflicts do not just destabilise human lives. The environment also suffers when mobs take advantage of a breakdown in law and order to invade forests and plunder other natural resources. anuary was a particularly bad month for the 400,000-ha Mau Complex, one of the key water sources in Kenya. Taking advatage of the post-election violence, hordes of people invaded the forest and hived off land for themselves. Others cut down the threatened Podo tree species to burn charcoal.
Conservationists who have mapped the extent of the destruction have warned that the forest could be destroyed by invaders. “There has been trouble there over the last two months,” says Mr D.S. Mbugua, the director of Kenya Forest Services. He is worried by the human encroachment of three of Mau Complex’s 12 forests – South West Mau, Trans Mara, ol Pusimoru and Maasai Mau. According to him, the situation is serious. Read more
Peace at last but counting the losses
Category: Conservation, Forest loss | Date: Mar 03 2008 | By: admin
Like everybody in Kenya we are sighing with relief; peace at last.
Sadly, the violence led to great losses in forests. The impact on forests has demonstrated how urgently forest issues need to be addressed. Forests have been invaded by illegal loggers, been torched, in some cases settled and cleared for cultivation, forests infrastructure in some areas has been completely vandalized and or/destroyed. Kenya Forest Service staff comprising foresters and forest guards were displaced from their work stations while others were threatened to stay away. This left the forests open to abuse and it has led to destruction of forests . KFS has lost millions of Shillings as a result of illegal logging.
However, KFS did a commendable job in responding to the crisis sending out rangers to priority areas and sounding out donors to fund restoration efforts. Currently a number of Civil Society organizations including KFWG are working with KFS and some donors to see how best urgent needs can be addressed.
The Forestry sector – in particular the newly created Kenya Forest Service - urgently needs funding for its operation and the political will to support it to serve its mandate. But, ultimately, as Kenyans, we must make sure we show respect and protect forests as we are so utterly dependent on them. We here at KFWG believe its our duty as all Kenyans.
KFS and County Council react to destruction in Mau Complex
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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