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All activities organized for World Migratory Bird Day (May 10) are united by a common theme. With the theme “Their Future is our Future”, this year’s World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) celebrations throw light on the topic of “Sustainable Development for Wildlife and People”. The theme is linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and highlights the interdependence of people and nature, and more specifically people and migratory birds, as they share the same planet and the same limited resources. Human activity can have a negative impact on birds’ migration, while humankind relies on birds as they deliver environmental services that are invaluable. In 2017, WMBD aims at raising awareness on the need for a sustainable management of our natural resources, demonstrating that bird conservation is also crucial for the future of humankind.

Why do migratory birds need protection?

There are many different migration patterns. The majority of birds migrate from northern breeding areas to southern wintering grounds. However, some birds breed in southern parts of Africa and migrate to northern wintering grounds, or along lines of latitude, to enjoy the milder coastal climates in winter. Other birds reside in lowlands during the winter months and move to higher altitudes for the summer.

Migration is a risky journey and exposes the animals to a wide range of threats, often caused by human activities. As migratory birds depend on a range of sites throughout their journey along their flyway, the loss of wintering and stopover sites could have a dramatic impact on the animals’ chances of survival.

Seven birds (Barn Swallow, Black-tailed Godwit, Amur Falcon, Garganey, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Red Knot and Spoon-billed Sandpiper) representative of different species groups that migrate over different flyways have been selected for this year’s theme presentation. Being either waterbirds, landbirds or raptors, these birds fly over different parts of the world – and all face various threats during their life cycle. The 2017 WMBD focuses on two major threats affecting migratory birds around the world: habitat loss and overharvesting, and the seven flagship migratory bird species will help us better understand what the threats are, what is at stake, and what we can do.

Nature Kenya will be marking the World Migratory Bird Day across the country in conjunction with local communities working to conserve Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas.

To find out more about the World Migratory Bird Day visit: http://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/

The conservation agenda has existed for many years now, though approaches used to reach targets have varied over time. One such approach is linking biodiversity conservation to livelihoods. This approach is based on the premise that biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource use are directly linked to people’s rights to secure their livelihoods and live in dignity.

The existence of Dakatcha Woodland, one of Kenya’s Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), has been under threat from unsustainable economic activities. These activities, such as charcoal burning, clearing of land for agriculture and extraction of wood products, have significantly contributed to the depletion of forest cover.

To reverse this worrying trend, Nature Kenya has been implementing a number of activities aimed at reducing the community’s over dependence on forest products for livelihood. In this respect two value chains: chicken rearing and farm forestry, are being promoted in Dakatcha Woodland as a way of integrating livelihoods into conservation.

Chicken farming was identified to facilitate gender mainstreaming into biodiversity conservation. Women’s participation in conservation activities is usually much lower compared to that of men and this was one of the considerations made in identifying an initiative that would also bring women onboard. In the Giriama community, chicken rearing is a preserve for women thus the initiative was warmly received by local women as it gave them an opportunity to actively engage in conservation efforts.

Four community groups are currently involved in chicken rearing in the area. The initiative has also improved the local chicken breed through inter-breeding with the improved “KARI Kienyeji” cockerels. Each of the four groups received three improved cockerels with members providing hens to be kept at a centralized site identified by the groups. The groups have also been linked

to the livestock production office where they get extension advice whenever necessary. So far 66 hens have cross bred with the improved “KARI Kienyeji” cockerels with the first generation of the improved chicks being hatched. Chicks fathered by the improved cockerels mature faster and are bigger in size as compared to the traditional local breed. A mature hen sells at between Kenya shillings 500 – 700 while a cockerel goes for between Kenya shillings 1,000 – 1,500.

In the long run this chicken rearing activity is expected to improve the chicken breeds and therefore allow the farmers to earn good income from sale of chicken for improved livelihoods in conservation.

The chicken rearing activity is being carried out under the “Integrating Livelihoods and Conservation – People Partner with Nature for Sustainable Living” program. The program aims at enhancing participatory forest management and contributing towards improving livelihoods of the community in order to reduce pressure on forested IBAs. The program is being undertaken by Nature Kenya in partnership with DOF – the BirdLife Partner in Denmark with funding from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) through CISU (Civil Society in Development).

The program is also promoting farm forestry in Dakatcha, with a total of 53,070 seedlings being produced during the current long rains season. The tree seedlings are valued at Kenya shillings 1,061,400 at the current market price.

Mt. Kenya conservation groups and Kenya Breweries Limited Kijani team watch as Gloria Waswa (foreground)-Nature Kenya Membership and Marketing Manager and Maryann Nderu -Kenya Breweries Limited Sustainability Manager plant an Olea Africana tree seedling during the Mt.
Kenya restoration tree planting exercise that was held on 21st April 2017. PHOTO: N. KIBOI

Dakatcha Woodland Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) covers nearly 2,000 square kilometres in the rolling hills of Magarini sub-county of Kilifi County. The beautiful spreading trees called Mrihi (Brachystegia spiciformis) are the main forest type. It is the most northern Brachystegia spiciformis forest in Africa. This forest gives Dakatcha Woodland its signature bird – the Clarke’s Weaver.
Rare Coastal Animals
Three bird species considered so rare that they are in danger of extinction are found in Dakatcha Woodland: Clarke’s Weaver, Sokoke Pipit and Sokoke Scops Owl. Clarke’s Weavers live only here
and in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest to the south. There’s also a mammal found only at the Coast and which is globally threatened: the Golden-rumped Sengi (Elephant-shrew). More than 220 kinds of
birds can be seen here, including the spectacular Fischer’s Turaco and international migratory birds such as Eurasian Rollers, Eurasian Golden Orioles, Nightingales and Spotted Flycatchers.
Threats
Dakatcha Woodland has no formal protection status. The economic and ecological services it provides and its remarkable biodiversity are threatened by over-exploitation of resources.
Uncontrolled logging of indigenous trees and illegal charcoal production have destroyed large tracts of forest vegetation and wildlife habitat. Agricultural expansion, especially pineapple production, has led to clearing of Cynometra forests and thickets, critically important as habitat for the endangered Sokoke Scops Owl. Unsustainable bush meat hunting poses a threat to the survival of rare mammals.
Conservation
The Dakatcha Woodland Conservation Group (DWCG) is a local environmental group working with Nature Kenya to conserve Dakatcha Woodland. The group was formed in 2008 with the main
objectives being to monitor birds and biodiversity, advocate for the conservation of Dakatcha Woodland IBA, create environmental awareness and support community livelihoods. DWCG comprises of four community groups and is affiliated to more than ten other groups, thus forming the largest community group in Marafa. Working together, DWCG, the Dakatcha Community Forest Association and the local community have set aside 26,000 hectares as Community Conserved Areas. These are nature reserves managed by local communities for preservation of animals, plants and ecosystem services, and for ecotourism and other cultural and non-consumptive uses.

Ongoing efforts to conserve Mt. Kenya ecosystem got a Ksh. 8 million boost from Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) geared towards rehabilitating degraded forest areas. The funds, part of a public-private sector partnership to sustainably restore Mt. Kenya forest, will see KBL support the planting of 100,000 indigenous trees in the forest by the Mt. Kenya Biodiversity (Mt. Kebio) site support group. The public-private sector partnership for sustainable water flows from Mt. Kenya forest is a Nature Kenya initiative that seeks strategic commitment and support from the business sector to enhance the quantity and quality of water flowing from Mt. Kenya.

The initiative targets to raise Ksh. 140 million annually to plant 2 million trees to restore 2,000 Ha of Mt. Kenya and upper Tana catchment landscapes while keeping clean water flowing for access and use by downstream users and ecology.

Speaking when presenting the Ksh. 8 million cheque to Nature Kenya, KBL Finance Director, Ms. Kinya Kimotho said the company was committed to conserving the Mt. Kenya forest, terming it as a key pillars to Kenya’s economic development.

“Today’s partnership is in line with our sustainability agenda which calls us to reduce our environmental impact. So far, 133 staff from KBL have signed up to join the community in Mt. Kenya in planting 100,000 tree seedlings,” said Ms. Kimotho said.

The presentation of the cheque was made during a breakfast meeting convened by Nature Kenya to discuss Mt. Kenya restoration. Prof. Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources was the chief guest at the meeting with participants drawn from the public and private sectors.

Acknowledging the initiative by Nature Kenya, Prof. Wakhungu urged the private sector to play a leading role in the restoration of Mt. Kenya forest by allocating more resources for conservation.

The Mt. Kenya and upper Tana ecosystem is the most productive basin for agriculture in Kenya. It provides water to key national parks, generates half of the country’s total hydropower, and supplies 95% of Nairobi’s water.

Mt. Kenya is also recognised as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) and as such is part of the “Kenyan Mountains Endemic Bird Area (EBA)”.

Bird species found there include the Jackson’s Francolin, Sharpe’s Longclaw, Jackson’s Widowbird and Abbott’s Starling.