Month: November 2024

KBA in Focus: Kirisia Forest

Posted on by John Mwacharo

Situated in the arid and semi-arid land on the Leroghi Plateau in Maralal, Samburu County, is the Kirisia Forest Key Biodiversity Area. Also known as Leroghi, the forest is one of Kenya’s oldest state forest reserves, gazetted in 1933, and the latest Important Bird Area (IBA) in Kenya designated in 2023. Kenya’s IBAs also qualify as Key Biodiversity Areas.

Kirisia forest is a critical wildlife dispersal route in northern Kenya, forming part of the north end of the Laikipia Plateau. It is also a crucial water source in the expansive, arid Ewaso Nyiro North river catchment. The KBA exhibits high floral diversity, hosting dry montane forest, upland forest and arid scrub vegetation. The high-elevation parts of the forest shelter upland bird species, which are largely cut off and miles away from the nearest central Kenya highlands that share similar species. Threatened fauna in the KBA include African wild dogs, Grevy’s zebra, Lelwel hartebeest, reticulated giraffe, vultures and Grey Crowned Cranes, among others. Black rhinos used to be common, but habitat destruction and poaching led to their disappearance. The site has two important cliffs, the Opiroi Cliffs, where the Critically Endangered Rüppell’s Vulture nests and roosts.

The forest is a source of life to the local community, providing diverse forest resources such as timber, fencing and building poles, non-wood products like honey, sand, water and herbal medicine, and ecosystem services. It is also important for cultural practices and eco-tourism.

However, Kirisia Forest faces several challenges threatening its future, most of which are anthropogenic. These include illegal logging for timber and firewood, charcoal burning, over-harvesting of herbal medicine and overgrazing, especially during the dry season when the only available pasture is in the forest. The predominant community living adjacent to the forest are nomadic pastoralists. Encroachment for settlement has also led to increased cases of human-wildlife conflicts. Other threats include forest fires, intentionally or accidentally caused by the local community, the spread of invasive species, soil erosion, and climate change.

Concerted efforts are needed to ensure that degradation is reversed for the long-term survival of the KBA. Kirisia Forest is under the management of the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in conjunction with the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Community Forest Association. The forest has a management plan that is currently being implemented. After rigorous community sensitization and awareness creation on the benefits of conserving the forest, more than 5,000 squatters willingly left the forest land they had encroached on. The natural forest is regenerating, and the community is leading in activities to rehabilitate and reforest degraded areas through tree planting. They are also adopting alternative livelihood options. Plans are underway to establish a Nature Kenya Site Support Group in Kirisia Forest.

Engaging the next generation in vulture conservation

Posted on by John Mwacharo

By Brian Otiego

Every year, the first Saturday of September marks International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD), a global event celebrating vultures and highlighting their vital role as nature’s clean-up crew. This year, Nature Kenya observed IVAD, focusing on engaging school children in vulture conservation, specifically in the Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Kwenia landscapes.

Vultures play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by scavenging on carcasses, thereby preventing the spread of diseases. Despite their importance, vulture populations across Kenya face significant threats, particularly from wildlife poisoning. Vultures are often unintended victims when they consume poisoned carcasses intended to target predators like hyenas and lions, resulting in their mass deaths. Disturbingly, children have been implicated in some cases of wildlife poisoning, as they may resort to using common household chemicals like dry cell battery components to poison carcasses after livestock losses.

Ongoing education programs have been critical in raising awareness about the dangers of poisoning wildlife, particularly vultures. This year, Nature Kenya took the lead in ensuring that children in key landscapes like Amboseli, Kwenia, and Mosiro in Kajiado County and Maasai Mara in Narok County participated in the anti-wildlife poisoning campaign. To mark IVAD, Nature Kenya held school outreach activities at Oldorko Primary School, Sterling Academy and Olorika Comprehensive School, where children drew and coloured vulture-themed artwork. They also watched an educative vulture video and participated in interactive discussions. The goal was to help them understand the ecological significance of vultures and how their conservation is critical to maintaining balanced ecosystems. Through these engaging activities, over 1,000 children learned more about vultures and how they prevent the spread of diseases by efficiently clearing dead animals from the landscape.

These outreach events fostered knowledge and sparked a sense of responsibility and appreciation for vultures among the younger generation. By introducing children to the world of conservation in such an engaging and imaginative way, Nature Kenya aims to mentor a future generation of conservationists who understand the value of vultures in our ecosystems and are inspired to protect them.

In Nairobi, a significant step forward for vulture conservation was made to commemorate IVAD. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), in partnership with Nature Kenya and other conservation organisations, launched the “Vulture Multi-species Action Plan for Kenya (2024-2034)” a day before the IVAD celebrations. The action plan aims to address the alarming decline of Kenya’s vulture populations – down by over 70% in recent decades – due to poisoning, collision with energy infrastructure, electrocution and habitat loss.

The multi-species action plan outlines targeted measures to protect and restore populations of critically endangered species like the White-backed Vulture, Rüppell’s Vulture, White-headed Vulture, and Hooded Vulture. The plan seeks to mitigate threats by working with communities, conservation groups, and stakeholders to promote sustainable practices that protect vultures and their habitats.