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.