Nature Blog

KBA in Focus: Mrima Hill

Posted on by Haggai Okumu

By Joshua Sese

Located in Kwale County near the Kenya–Tanzania border, Mrima Hill is one of Kenya’s most important coastal forest Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). The hill forms part of the Eastern African Coastal Forests biodiversity hotspot, a globally recognised region renowned for its remarkable variety of unique species.

Mrima Hill supports threatened bird species, including Fischer’s Turaco and Spotted Ground Thrush, both of which rely on healthy forest habitats. The site is also home to more than 270 plant species, and small mammals, reptiles, amphibians such as tiny toads, and beautiful butterflies, making it a vital refuge for biodiversity in Kenya’s increasingly fragmented coastal forests.

This natural treasure faces mounting pressure. Mrima Hill contains valuable deposits of rare earth elements and niobium – minerals essential to modern technologies and renewable energy systems. Exploration activities have already disturbed the habitat through excavation pits, vegetation clearance, and increased human activity in sensitive forest areas. Large-scale mining would accelerate forest degradation, habitat fragmentation, soil erosion, and water pollution, while also threatening the sacred Kaya sites of the local Digo community.

Beyond mining pressure, the hill faces illegal logging, charcoal burning, fuelwood collection, and agricultural encroachment, all of which continue to reduce forest cover. Climate change further stresses the fragile ecosystem through shifting rainfall patterns.

Despite these pressures, there is some hope. Mrima Hill is gazetted as a Forest Reserve, and Mrima Hill Kaya is gazetted as a National Monument. The Kenya Forest Service is working with the local Community Forest Association (CFA), Kaya elders, and conservation groups to protect the forest through patrols and community awareness programmes. These efforts include curbing illegal logging and charcoal burning, restoring habitat, planting indigenous trees, monitoring biodiversity, and advocating stricter environmental regulation of mining activities.

Protecting Mrima Hill means safeguarding not just rare species, but also the cultural heritage and ecological services that local communities depend on. The forest’s future rests on balancing mineral exploitation with the conservation of unique species and the needs of those who call this region home.

 

KBA in Focus: Hell’s Gate National Park

Posted on by John Mwacharo

By Joshua Sese

 Hell’s Gate National Park, located in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley near Lake Naivasha, is an ecologically significant protected area designated a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) for its global importance in species conservation. Gazetted in 1984 and covering about 68 square kilometres, the park is distinguished by dramatic volcanic landscapes, including towering cliffs, deep gorges such as Ol Njorowa, geothermal steam vents, and lava-formed rock towers, which together create a mosaic of specialised habitats.

This combination of geological activity and ecological diversity supports more than 100 bird species, including threatened raptors – vultures and eagles – as well as mammals such as giraffes, buffaloes, and antelopes. The park’s cliffs provide crucial breeding sites for the critically endangered Rüppell’s Vulture and for thousands of swifts, whilst the geothermal conditions allow unusual plant communities to thrive in extreme environments.

Hell’s Gate’s ecological integrity faces ongoing threats from expanding geothermal energy development within and around the park. These operations occupy large tracts of land, generating noise, light, and vibration pollution that disrupts wildlife behaviour and may affect breeding patterns. Human-wildlife conflict arises from the park’s proximity to settlements and agricultural areas around Naivasha, whilst invasive plant species alter native vegetation and reduce habitat quality.

Tourism pressure from hiking, cycling, and the Safari Rally, though economically important, has led to habitat degradation and wildlife disturbance. Some 40 geothermal wells are planned for drilling to the west, and the neighbouring Kedong Ranch is being subdivided. Natural hazards such as flash floods in the gorges even pose threats to visitors.

A combination of conservation strategies is being implemented by the Kenya Wildlife Service and partner institutions to address these challenges. The interventions include regulated geothermal development to balance renewable energy production with biodiversity protection, alongside environmental impact assessments and zoning to limit ecological damage.

Community-based initiatives and conflict-mitigation measures, such as fencing, education programmes, and collaboration with local communities, are helping to reduce human-wildlife tensions. Invasive species management and strict tourism guidelines are also enforced to maintain ecosystem health, whilst continuous monitoring of wildlife populations supports adaptive conservation planning.

Although pressures remain significant, these interventions demonstrate an ongoing effort to reconcile conservation with development, ensuring Hell’s Gate remains a vital biodiversity refuge within Kenya’s Rift Valley.

From tree cutters to tree keepers

Posted on by John Mwacharo

by Bonface Musyoka and Fridah Munene

For years, Hellen Ng’etich, who lives on the edge of South Nandi Forest, has watched her community cut down indigenous trees to harvest wild honey. Traditional honey harvesting meant finding bee colonies in tree hollows, cutting branches to access hives, and often destroying entire trees. “It’s destructive,” she says. “But we had no other way.”

That reality is about to change. Through a new forest restoration project, Hellen is expecting to receive her first Langstroth beehive. “I don’t want my grandchildren asking why we destroyed what we could have saved,” she says. “If these beehives work, we can earn income without destroying trees.”

Her hopes reflect a quiet awakening in Kenya’s Nandi Hills, where indigenous forests shelter unique biodiversity, including the endangered Turner’s Eremomela, and small streams feed the Nzoia and Yala rivers, major tributaries of Lake Victoria. For decades, this vital ecosystem has faced mounting pressure from agricultural expansion, illegal logging, and climate change.

Watching the Forest Disappear

Johnna Lelei, secretary of Murguiywet Site Support Group, has walked the forest paths his entire life. He remembers when the canopy was so thick that rain took minutes to reach the ground. “Now, in some places, you can see straight through to the sky.” But that visibility has become his motivation. “We will no longer just watch our forest disappear.”

Dominic Tanuai, Chairman of Kobujoi Community Forest Association, states it clearly: “We wanted to protect our forests, but we did not know which areas needed urgent restoration or which species were suitable.” Nature Kenya’s Darwin Initiative-funded Nandi’s Green Lungs project has arrived with both tools and training to close that gap.

A science-led Restoration Opportunities Assessment and Mapping (ROAM) process is under way, giving communities a roadmap for where their efforts will have the greatest impact. Combined with training in tree nursery management, forest monitoring, and alternative livelihoods (beekeeping, poultry farming, and agroforestry) communities are reclaiming stewardship of their forest. “We’re not being told what to do,” Johnna says. “We’re being equipped to make informed decisions ourselves.”

Ready for Change

“This project will help our people see the forest as an asset, rather than a burden,” says Peter Butuk, Chairman of Kimondi Iruru Community Forest Association. At Rising Star Women Group meetings, excitement is palpable – women imagining their own beehives, dreaming of income that does not require cutting down trees. “We’re ready to learn,” Hellen says. “We’re ready to try a different way.”

A Living Promise Begins

The forest’s full recovery will take decades, but in the highlands of Nandi, a shift is already under way. Communities are no longer resigned to watching their forest disappear; they are preparing to grow it back, one hive, one seedling at a time.

Hellen walks the forest paths now with a new vision. “When my children ask where honey comes from,” she says, “I want to point to living trees, not tell stories about ones we cut down.” Those trees once felled for honey? If this project succeeds, they will remain standing – roots holding the soil, filtering the rain that feeds the streams flowing towards Lake Victoria. For the first time in years, communities like Hellen’s believe it can be done.

Rising Waters, Shifting Flocks: Kenya’s 2026 Waterbird Census Reveals a Rift Valley in Flux

Posted on by John Mwacharo

By Richard Kipngeno and Aloise Garvey

 The National Waterbird Census, conducted by dedicated volunteers and ornithologists, has concluded across Kenya’s iconic Rift Valley lakes, painting a picture of an ecosystem in transition. This year’s count revealed significant shifts in water levels and bird populations that underscore the dynamic nature of these critical wetlands. 

 Key Findings 

One of the standout moments of this year’s census came at Lake Baringo, where volunteers were thrilled to record a Cotton Pygmy Goose—an Asian waterfowl first documented in Kenya only at the end of December 2025.

 The news wasn’t celebratory for flamingos, however. Numbers were notably down across all major lakes where they feed, including Bogoria, Elmenteita, Nakuru and Magadi. These pink-hued flocks, once synonymous with the Rift Valley’s lakes, appeared in smaller concentrations than previous years, raising questions about food availability and habitat conditions. 

 On a brighter note, Palearctic migrants made a strong showing this year. Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintails, Garganeys and Black-tailed Godwits were recorded more frequently compared to last year’s census, suggesting favorable conditions along their migration routes and within Kenya’s wetlands. 

 Challenges in the Field 

Water levels presented the most significant challenge for census teams this year. Throughout most of the Rift Valley lakes, water levels were markedly higher than in 2025, rendering large stretches of shoreline inaccessible and complicating count efforts. The elevated waters altered habitat availability and likely influenced bird distribution patterns across the region. 

 Lake Magadi stood as a notable exception. Contrary to the trend elsewhere in the Rift Valley, Magadi recorded very low water levels compared to previous years, with about 60% of the lake reduced to dry salt pans. This stark contrast highlights the variability within the Rift Valley’s water system. 

 As water levels fluctuate and species’ distributions shift, the message becomes clear: wetland conservation isn’t optional. Protecting these vital habitats ensures their resilience for both the flamingos that wade through alkaline waters and the people who call the Rift Valley home. The census continues, and so must our commitment to safeguarding these irreplaceable landscapes. 

KBA in Focus: Mutitu Hill Forest

Posted on by John Mwacharo

By Joshua Sese

Mutitu Hill Forest Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) emerges like a green sanctuary from the arid scrubland of Kitui County, rising from 800 metres to about 1,500 metres above sea level. For scientists, nature lovers, and local communities, Mutitu Hill Forest is a living laboratory, a refuge, and a shared natural heritage.

Its ecosystem supports a wide array of flora and fauna, including more than 100 bird species. Among them are the Kenyan endemic Hinde’s Babbler (Near Threatened), and the Endangered Martial Eagle. The forest and surrounding valleys are dominated by indigenous trees and shrubs and thickets of Lantana camara favoured by Hinde’s Babbler, whose population has reportedly been declining due to changes in land use. Other critical biodiversity includes threatened and endemic plants such as Balanites and Oryza species, as well as the Critically Endangered Pancake Tortoise.

Mutitu Hill Forest faces immense conservation challenges. Deforestation and habitat loss driven by agricultural expansion, human settlement, and illegal logging are fragmenting the forest and reducing habitats. The western side, known as the most productive area, has very high levels of encroachment. Climate change has altered rainfall patterns and increased drought, affecting forest regeneration and making the area more prone to fires. Unclear land tenure, growing population pressure, and high poverty levels further complicate conservation efforts.

To ensure Mutitu Hill Forest survives and continues providing ecosystem services, a multi-stakeholder approach is essential. Kitui County Government has been at the forefront, implementing conservation actions and marketing Mutitu and neighbouring Mumoni Hill Forest as tourist destinations.

Mutitu Site Support Group is working tirelessly with different stakeholders to conserve the area. In conjunction with the National Museums of Kenya and Nature Kenya, the group has mapped areas where Hinde’s Babblers live and is closely monitoring any changes or disturbances. Through awareness creation, they sensitise local communities on the importance of conserving these vital habitats.