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Politics of Land Excisions and Climate Change in the Mau Forest Complex

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Politics of Land Excisions and Climate Change in the Mau Forest Complex J. sustain. environ. peace (2019) 1(2) 52-62 Journal of Sustainability, Environment and Peace Homepage: http://www.jsep.uonbi.ac.ke WANGARI MAATHAI INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AND ISSN: 2663-4627 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Politics of Land Excisions and Climate Change in the Mau Forest Complex: A Case Study of the South-Western Mau Forest Shazia Chaudhry Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies, University of Nairobi Article history: ABSTRACT Received: 8 March 2019 Received in revised form: 28 March 2019 Kenya is blessed with numerous natural forests, which play vital roles in national Accepted: 3 April 2019 Available online: 5 April 2019 development. The Mau Forest Complex is Kenya’s biggest water tower and unlimited source of ecological, aesthetic and socio-economic benefits to millions living around the area. However, the complex faces critical threats due to anthropogenic activities. The key objective of the study is to critically examine the causes, key impacts, and intersections between large scale land excisions, local climate change and human security of the Corresponding Author adjacent communities. Both secondary and primary data were employed to study the links Shazia Chaudhry Email Address: [email protected] between land excisions and climate changes around the complex. The study findings reveal that large scale land excisions are mainly led by human actions such as political motives influencing contested land ownership regimes, population pressure, growth of subsistence agriculture, logging, charcoal making, and rural-urban development. The study concludes that the areas around the forests are experiencing rapid climate changes, Key words: including recurrent and persistent drought periods and rainfall variability. These changes Land Excisions in the local climate pose unprecedented implications to human security and well-being of Anthropogenic activities Climate Change the local people. The study recommends that while dealing with climate change issues, Human Security national policies be guided by taking consideration of addressing political dimensions of Mau Forest Complex land excisions as a major threat to Kenya’s forest lands. 1. Introduction ecosystem and the overarching situation of human security and socio-economic effects on the local The Mau Forest Complex (MFC) is the most important population. The paper focuses on the Southwest forest water tower in Kenya. It is a natural asset, which reserve, which is one of the most degraded parts of the provides strategic ecological and economic goods and MFC. services at local, national, and regional scales. Its rich vegetation includes the acacia trees, coniferous 1.2 The study Site plantations, wooded grasslands teaming with great The MFC is located in the West of the Great Rift variety of wildlife. Over the years, and especially in the Valley, and situated at approximately 250 kilometres last few decades, profound changes have taken place in from Nairobi. Originally, the Complex covered massive the Mau, leaving behind a trail of destruction of one of land area of 405,000 ha, however, presently land cover the country’s key natural resources. As a result of these of the MFC has been reduced to 273,300 ha (Kenya activities, more than one quarter of the original forested Forest Services, 2014). The Mau Forest Complex is the area of the MFC has disappeared (Kinyanjui et al, 2014, biggest of the five key water towers in Kenya and also KEFRI, 2013). serves as an upper catchment for several streams and Against this background, this paper takes account of the twelve rivers including Nzoia, Yala, Nyando, Sondu, history of land excisions in the MFC. It further delves Mara, Kerio, Molo, EwasoNgiro South, Njoro, Nderit, into the impacts of anthropogenic activities and the Mkalia and Naishi. At the same time, these rivers drain resultant environmental crises causing climatic changes into five major lakes of the region; Victoria, Nakuru, in and around the Mau complex. Additionally, the paper Natron, Turkana and Baringo. examines the continued degradation of the Mau’s The Mau Forest Complex comprises 22 units of forests contained within ten major forest blocks; Mau Narok, Please cite this article as: Shazia C. (2019). Politics of Land Excisions and Maasai Mau, East Mau, Western Mau, Southern Mau, Climate Change in the Mau Forest Complex: A Case Study of the South- South West Mau, Londiani, Tinderet, Lembus and Western Mau Forest. J. sustain. environ. peace 1(2) 52-62 Trans Mara. 53 Shazia Chaudhry (2019) / J. sustain. environ. peace 1(2)52-62 These forest blocks are situated in the heart of some protects the soil and keeps it intact from erosion and important counties like Narok, Nakuru, Baringo and water runoff. Kericho. Vegetation cover of the MFC vary erratically from grasslands to thick bamboo forest formation in the Other roles of bamboo is to help in carbon dioxide Eastern slopes, whereas the lower slopes of West and sequestration by storing excessive amount of carbon Southwest have a mixture of bamboo with various kinds which otherwise would be released into the atmosphere of trees forming a closed canopy montane forest and add to global warming and climate change. Bamboo (KEFRI, 2013) Based on this information, the Mau is also a good source of handicrafts. Since 2013, the Complex is one of the biggest closed canopy montane government of Kenya introduced the enterprise ecosystems in the East African region (ibid). development programmes based on sustainable use of bamboo, especially aimed at the well fare of the The Mau Forest Complex has five main forest reserves, internally displaced persons (IDPs) of the Mau Forest. including the Eastern, Western, South-West, Trans- Such programmes help to generate livelihoods by mara Ol-Posimoru and the Maasai Mau. All of these making handicrafts like baskets (J. M. Mbinga, personal reserves are gazetted except the Maasai Mau, which is communication, 13 February, 2014). Other types of classified as trust land, managed by the County forest trees provide wood for multiple usages from government of Narok. Gazetted forests are directly furniture to construction, mainly due to durability, under the government’s authority and managed by the strength, and flexibility (Ben-zhi et al., 2005). Kenya Forest Service, which is the state agency mandated to take care of national forests. The national Although MFC is not a tourist attraction as such, the government manages gazetted forests on behalf of the forests sustains more than 450 bird species and a huge people whereby the revenues collected from the forest variety of wild animals, including some rare and are utilised to strengthen national economy as well as endangered species such as the bongo, yellow backed for the common welfare of the citizens. Topographical duiker and the African golden cat. Other commonly features of the Mau Forest Complex include the found animals found in the Mau forests include changing landscape, comprising a multitude of hills, elephant, buffalo, gazelle, leopard, antelope, hyena, rolling land, plains, and escarpments. Its slopes range forest hog, colobus, blue and red-tailed monkeys, and from 2 per cent where the forest lies in the plains to 30 many small species such as the African genet and per cent along the foothills (Olnag & Kundu, 2011) hyrax. Each species of the flora and fauna is an asset of the forest and plays a unique role to enhance its socio- The MFC lies at an altitude between 2000 to 3000 economic and ecological values. meters above the sea level. The Mau Forest Complex lacks a definite dry or wet precipitation regime and There are wide range of goods and services that are receives rainfall throughout the year, especially in the linked to the Mau’s biodiversity. For instance, the eastern parts. Studies indicate that during 1986-2005, Complex provides water, food, shelter, clothing, the Complex had a bimodal rainfall pattern, with firewood, and grazing areas for the communities living continuous rains having two peaks; long rains, and short in and around its proximity (Ben-zhi et al., 2005). rains (Kenya National Museums, 2009). Long rains Forest animals and plants are source of food for the extend from March to June while short rains are locals. Many of these contain medicinal properties and experienced during the period between Octobers to are used to cure day-to-day ailments (The Mixed December. community Focus Group Discussions, 2014). The biodiversity also provides endless opportunities to Since 2006, trimodal precipitation pattern has also been researchers of various fields of study. The Mau Forests observed in certain areas having long rainy season from have been home to indigenous forest dwelling April to May while short rains occurring during communities such as the Ogiek, meaning ‘the caretaker November to December, with an extra small peak of all plants and wild animals’ (Joseph, 2001). during August (Baldyga, et al., 2007). Average annual rainfall is about 2000 mm in the areas around Kericho Traditionally, the Ogieks have had an intrinsic and 800-1000 mm in areas adjacent to Narok, Nakuru, relationship with their environment, which made them Molo, Lembus and Trans Mara. The normal conscious about the ecosystem of the MFC. In the temperature inside the Mau fluctuates between 12°C to process, they sustainably used and protected the forests 16°C (Kenya Meteorological Department, October with their indigenous practices and knowledge. For 2013). During the months of summer, maximum decades, these communities have entirely relied upon temperature rises above 19°C. The soil of the Mau the forest resources. For instance, in the economic, Forest region is volcanic and layered with fertile soil, food, and health perspectives, the Ogieks relied upon thus, making it attractive for agriculturalists. bee keeping, game hunting, and other forest supplies such as roots of trees and wild berries. Honey is the The Mau Forest provides a habitat for variety of flora most important item as they use it as food and trade it to and fauna.
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