By Boniface Musyoka
Located in the misty hills of Nandi County, the South Nandi Forest Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) is one of Kenya’s vital water sources. This mid-elevation African montane forest, spanning 170 square kilometres, feeds the Kimondi and Sirua rivers, which flow into the Yala River and ultimately into Lake Victoria. Millions of people downstream depend on the water from the slopes of Nandi, from farmers and fishermen to families in their homes.
South Nandi KBA is also a refuge for wildlife from both the montane forests and western rainforests. The globally threatened Turner’s Eremomela bird lives here, alongside other species adapted to highland forest life. Colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, over 250 bird species, diverse bats, and more than 70 butterfly species make their homes among the trees. Indigenous plant species like Prunus africana connect these Kenyan highlands to the vast rainforests of West Africa, linking ecosystems across a continent.
Yet South Nandi Forest faces serious pressure. Rapid population growth has pushed agricultural expansion beyond designated areas. Illegal logging, charcoal production, and livestock grazing deep in the forest continue to fragment the canopy and degrade habitats. These threats destroy wildlife homes and jeopardise the natural resources local communities depend on for farming and water.
Local stakeholders are fighting back. Volunteers from the Kobujoi and Kimondi Community Forest Associations (CFAs) and the South Nandi Biodiversity Conservation Group, working closely with the Kenya Forest Service, are conducting forest patrols, monitoring wildlife, and implementing other conservation activities. These efforts, guided by long-term forest management plans, focus on enforcing forest boundaries and stopping illegal activity.
To reduce dependence on the forest for livelihoods, communities are turning to alternatives. Beekeeping, fish farming, private woodlots, and climate-smart agriculture are generating household income whilst protecting the forest. These nature-friendly livelihoods prove that people can thrive without destroying the ecosystems they depend on.
South Nandi Forest’s future depends on sustained collaboration among government, conservation groups, and local communities. When communities lead conservation efforts, both forests and people can flourish together.