Saving Kenya's Forests

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.

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.

As part of its activities, KFWG receives and acts on reports of forest destruction sent in by members and the general public. We will be posting some of these and updating you on any action that is being taken.

Ngong forest
Ngong Forest, is an indigenous forest located right within the confines of Nairobi city. The forest is about 600 hectares.

We received this report from a member recently, reporting on destruction near IPR:

“I regularly walk through a part of the Ngong Forest along the western edge of the IPR (Institute of Primate Research) controlled area (along the road leading to Olkeri Secondary School).

Recently there has been an alarming amount of illegal tree-felling going on… slowly-slowly, a mature indigenous tree of about 8 inch dia. every two or three days.“

And:

“I’ve broadened my search in this area and am shocked at the full extent of the offtake. This is in a totally indigenous forest, and 50% of the formerly closed canopy has been opened in areas, with trees up to 12″ basal dia. removed very neatly and professionally by hand-saws. Very little evidence is left behind, other than stumps and leaves. This is clearly an organised commercial operation. At a (very) rough guess I’d say some 400 to 500 trees within a 40 hectare section of forest have been surgically removed over the past 4 to 6 months“

KFWG has already reported this destruction to the Provincial Forest Officer, Nairobi. She assures us that investigations are underway. We hope action will be taken immediately and that this destruction will stop.

We have also heard that the IPR has been taken to the site and “they seem to similarly be appalled that this type of operation has been going on undetected- especially so close to their station, but admit that they rarely patrol anywhere near this section of forest”. They “have indicated a willingness to work with the Ngong Forestry officers and local police in an attempt to stop this…“

Thanks to the person who reported this and for the further assurance that:

“I’ll report on any activity I see- good or bad, and am happy to show the area to anyone concerned.“

We need lots of cooperation to save Kenya’s forests.

We would also like to inform Friends of Oloolua forest, who had reported a dumping problem in Oloolua that the PFO Nairobi is similarly looking into this. We will keep you update on progress, especially in putting up “No dumping” signs along the forest edge to pave way for prosecution of offenders.