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| Friends
of Kinangop Plateau
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|  The
Kinangop grasslands are the global stronghold of the Sharpe’s
Longclaw, a critically threatened bird found only in Kenya, in addition
to other distinctive avifauna. Every year, large numbers of Palaearctic
migrants use the area in passage. Kenya’s unique highland
grasslands are not included in any protected areas and are rapidly
being converted for arable farming.
Established
in 1997 by a handful of birdwatchers at Murungaru, the Friends of
Kinangop Plateau (FoKP) has experienced tremendous growth and spawned
three other branch offices at Engineer, Njabini and Magumu/Nyakio.
With a current membership of approximately 250 individuals, the
groups focus on conservation of the highland montane grasslands
of Kinangop. |
Activities
and impacts
• The FoKP participate in data collection for detailed monitoring
of the site.
• Wool spinning to promote sheep rearing that encourages grass
tussocks (the primary nesting habitat for the Sharpe’s Longclaw)
to grow. Quality products have been produced and sold, with the
community earning more than Ksh. 400,000 since 2004.
• Ecotourism, kitchen gardening
• In 2004/05 Nature Kenya purchased a 90 acre nature reserve
to save the Sharpe’s Longclaw from imminent extinction. By
January 2007, 3 resident pairs of the bird were recorded in the
reserve
• FoKP runs an environmental education and awareness programme
for schools and the wider local community. As a result, more than
1500 trees have been planted in over 48 schools in Kinangop. An
Eco-resource centre established in Kinangop will act as an environmental
education and demonstration facility for schools and the local community.
The center opened to the public in February 2007, and school children
are visiting and receiving environmental education through demonstrations,
talks, videos and interactive sessions
• Bee keeping: since 2004, 150 hives and two honey processors
acquired, with over Ksh. 86,740 earned from bee keeping
• FoKP represents the local community in the Nyandarua District
Environment Committee. For more information on District Environment
Committees, visit the NEMA website www.nema.go.ke
Partners:
World Wide Fund for Nature, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of
Education, Nyandarua County Council, National Environment Management
Authority
Donors:
European Union Biodiversity Conservation Programme, the Jensen Foundation,
IUCN (the World Conservation Union), Swedish International Biodiversity
Programme, DOF (BirdLife in Denmark), the Darwin Initiative.
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