DOCSLIB.ORG

MAU COMPLEX UNDER SIEGE MAU COMPLEX UNDER SIEGE Introduction Values Threats

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
MAU COMPLEX UNDER SIEGE MAU COMPLEX UNDER SIEGE Introduction Values Threats Introduction MAUMAU COMPLEXCOMPLEX UNDERUNDER SIEGESIEGE ValuesValues andand threatsthreats Values Threats A presentation by: UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE KENYA FORESTS WORKING GROUP EWASO NGIRO SOUTH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY May 2008 Introduction: Location and extent n a d u S E t Introduction h i The Mau Complex covers o p The Mau Complex covers i a somesome 400,000 400,000 ha, ha, as as large large asas Mt. Mt. Kenya Kenya and and the the AberdaresAberdarescombined.combined. It is the largest forest of It is the largest forest of Kenya.Kenya. Values AsAs a a montane montaneforest,forest, it it is is S oaa m li oneone of of the the five five main main “water “water U g a n d a d a n U g towers” of Kenya, with Mt. towers” of Kenya, with Mt. Kenya,Kenya, the the Aberdare Aberdare Range,Range, Mt. Mt. Elgon Elgon andand the the CherenganiCherenganiHills.Hills. Threats n T a a n e z a c n i a O n a i d n I Mau Complex: critical water catchments The Mau Complex forms the The Mau Complex forms the Introduction upperupper catchments catchments of of all all (but (but one)one) main main rivers rivers west west of of the the Rift Rift Valley,Valley, including: including: • Nzoia River (Î Lake Victoria) • Nzoia River (Î Lake Victoria) • Yala River (Î Lake Victoria) • Yala River (Î Lake Victoria) • Nyando River (Î Lake Victoria) • Nyando River (Î Lake Victoria) • Sondu River (Î Lake Victoria) • Sondu River (Î Lake Victoria) Values • Mara River (Î Lake Victoria) • Mara River (Î Lake Victoria) • Kerio River (Î Lake Turkana) • Kerio River (Î Lake Turkana) • Molo River (Î Lake Baringo) • Molo River (Î Lake Baringo) • Ewaso Nyiro River (Î Lake Natron) • Ewaso Nyiro River (Î Lake Natron) • Njoro River (Î Lake Nakuru) • Njoro River (Î Lake Nakuru) • Nderit River (Î Lake Nakuru) • Nderit River ( Î Lake Nakuru) • Makalia River (Î Lake Nakuru) • Makalia River ( Î Lake Nakuru) Threats • Naishi River (Î Lake Nakuru) • Naishi River ( Î Lake Nakuru) ItIt feeds feeds major major lakes, lakes, including: including: • Lake Victoria • Lake Victoria • Lake Turkana • Lake Turkana • Lake Baringo • Lake Baringo • Lake Nakuru • Lake Nakuru • Lake Natron • Lake Natron ofof which which three three are are cross- cross- boundary:boundary: • Lake Victoria (Nile River Basin) • Lake Victoria (Nile River Basin) • Lake Turkana (Kenya / Ethiopia) • Lake Turkana (Kenya / Ethiopia) • Lake Natron (Tanzania / Kenya) • Lake Natron (Tanzania / Kenya) Mau Complex: catchments with high hydropower potential Nyando River Nyando River • Potential: 9.0 MW • Potential: 9.0 MW Introduction Sondu River Sondu River • Potential: 209.0 MW • Potential: 209.0 MW • Developed: 60.0 MW (Sondu-Miriu) 1 • Developed: 60.0 MW (Sondu-Miriu) • Developed: 4.0 MW (Kericho tea estates) 3 • Developed: 4.0 MW (Kericho tea estates) 2 • Planned: 21.4 MW (Sang’oro) • Planned: 21.4 MW (Sang’oro) Mara River Values Mara River • Potential: 20.0 MW • Potential: 20.0 MW Ewaso Ngiro River Ewaso Ngiro River • Potential: 220.0 MW • Potential: 220.0 MW 4 Threats Yala River Yala River 2 1 3 • Potential: 50.0 MW • Potential: 50.0 MW • Planned: 9.2 MW (Nandi tea estates) 4 • Planned: 9.2 MW (Nandi tea estates) Total potential: 508 MW Total potential: 508 MW Representing 50% of the current Representing 50% of the current total installed capacity in the total installed capacity in the country country Market value of electricity Market value of electricity generated from developed and generated from developed and planned hydropower plants: planned hydropower plants: approx. Kshs 5.3 billion / year approx. Kshs 5.3 billion / year Mau Complex: key to major conservation areas South Turkana National Reserve 1 South Turkana National Reserve • Scenic landscape. Wildlife plentiful • Scenic landscape. Wildlife plentiful Introduction 2 Kerio Valley National Reserve Kerio Valley National Reserve Kamnarok National Reserve Kamnarok National Reserve Lake Baringo 3 Lake Baringo • Important Bird Area (over 470 species) • Important Bird Area (over 470 species) Lake Nakuru National Park Values 1 4 Lake Nakuru National Park • Second most visited protected area • Second most visited protected area • Ramsar Site (1990) • Ramsar Site (1990) • Important Bird Area (over 450 species) • Important Bird Area (over 450 species) 2 3 Lake Natron 8 5 Lake Natron • Main breeding area for the flamingoes • Main breeding area for the flamingoes Threats in the Rift Valley in the Rift Valley 4 Maasai Mara National Reserve 6 Maasai Mara National Reserve • World famous for big game and • World famous for big game and great migration great migration • Important Bird Area (over 450 species) 6 • Important Bird Area (over 450 species) Serengeti National Park 5 7 Serengeti National Park • World Heritage Site • World Heritage Site 7 • World famous for big game and • World famous for big game and great migration great migration • Important Bird Area (over 540 species) • Important Bird Area (over 540 species) Kakamega Forest National Reserve 8 Kakamega Forest National Reserve Maasai Mara NR & Lake Nakuru NP • Only remnant in Kenya of the Guineo- Maasai Mara NR & Lake Nakuru NP • Only remnant in Kenya of the Guineo- Entry fee (2007): Kshs 1.16 billion / year Congolian forest ecosystem Entry fee (2007): Kshs 1.16 billion / year Congolian forest ecosystem Direct and indirect revenues (2007): approx. Kshs 5 billion / year • High biodiversity (birds, butterflies, plants…) Direct and indirect revenues (2007): approx. Kshs 5 billion / year • High biodiversity (birds, butterflies, plants…) Values: Key to people’s livelihood A large majority of Kenya’s A large majority of Kenya’s Introduction populationpopulation lives lives in in Lake Lake VictoriaVictoria basin. basin. This This region region is is crossedcrossed by by major major rivers rivers flowing flowing fromfrom the the Mau Mau Complex. Complex. Some Some 5 5 millionmillion people people live live in in the the sub- sub- locationslocations crossed crossed by by these these rivers. Values rivers. In addition the Mau Complex In addition the Mau Complex providesprovides environmental environmental servicesservices essential essential to to crop crop productionproduction (continuous (continuous river river Threats flow,flow, favourable favourablemicro-climatemicro-climate conditions)conditions) as as well well as as many many products (medicinal plants, products (medicinal plants, firewoodfirewood and and grazing). grazing). Values: Major micro-climate regulators for crops Tea growing areas are located near montane forests where conditions for optimum tea production are met: ● Constant moisture Introduction ● Soil temperature between 16 and 25 ºC ● Air temperature between 10 and 30 ºC The largest tea growing areas in Kenya are near the Mau Complex, in particular South West Mau forest (Kericho), Tinde ret and Northern Tinderet forests . Kericho and Nandi highlands near the Mau Complex Values Kericho and Nandi highlands near the Mau Complex Market value of tea (2007): approx. Kshs 8 billion / year Market value of tea (2007): approx. Kshs 8 billion / year Threats Source: The Tea Map of Kenya, The Tea Board of Kenya, 2003 Threats: 2001 forest excisions and illegal encroachments Estimated number of households South West Mau 2,300 Introduction 13,000 Eastern Mau 15,000 Maasai Mau 2,400 Values Threats Threats Threats: 2001 forest excisions and illegal encroachments Estimated number of households South West Mau 2,300 Introduction 13,000 Eastern Mau 15,000 Maasai Mau 2,400 Values Threats Threats Eastern Mau FR: 2001 excision affects the top of the Mau In 2001, the Government excised over 67,000 hectares of forest reserve land, mainly in the Mau Complex. The largest excisions affected Eastern Mau Forest Reserve and South West Mau Forest Introduction Reserve where 35,301 ha and 22,797 ha respectively were excised representing 54.3 % and 27.3 % of these forests. The excision in Eastern Mau covers parts of the summit of the Mau escarpment. Values Threats Threats Introduction Values Threats 2001 excisions affect Lake Nakuru Eastern Mau FR: Eastern Mau FR: 2001 excisions affect Lake Nakuru The 2001 excision in Eastern Mau impacts tremendously on the catchment of Lake Nakuru. Between 1973 and 2003, 36,780 hectares of dense vegetation cover were lost in the catchment of Lake Nakuru, Introduction representing a loss of 49 % of its total dense vegetation cover. Boreholes are already drying (Egerton University) and rivers becoming seasonal (Njoro). 1973 2003 Values Threats Threats Loss of dense vegetation cover between 1973 – 2003 Inside FR: 15,820 ha Outside FR: 20,960 ha Total: 36,780 ha Sources - Landsat MSS and ETM images. False colour composition - Forest boundaries: KIFCON project, Forest Department Introduction Values Threats 2001 excisions affect Lake Baringo Eastern Mau FR: Introduction Values Threats 2001 excisions & illegal encroachments South West Mau FR: South West Mau FR: Illegal encroachments Introduction Values Threats Threats Photograph taken on 24 February 2007 Maasai Mau: Past forest destruction The boundaries of the Maasai Mau Forest (46,278 hectares) were agreed upon in 1987, based on the work of the Ntutu Commission. Since the delineation, large tracks of forest were clear felled outside Introduction the boundaries. More recently, encroachments have taken place inside the forest boundaries. Values Threats Th reats Legend Loss of forest cover between 1986 – 2003 Loss of forest cover between 1986 – 2003 River boundary Ridge boundary Inside the boundaries: 3,382 hectares Straight line
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Outcomes of the EU Horizon 2020 DAFNE PROJECT the Omo
    POLICY BRIEF October 2020 Outcomes of the EU Horizon 2020 DAFNE PROJECT The Omo-Turkana River Basin Progress towards cooperative frameworks KEY POLICY MESSAGES The OTB has reached a stage of pivotal importance for future development; the time to establish a cooperative framework on water governance is now. Transparency and accountability must be improved in order to facilitate the sharing of data and information, increasing trust and reducing the perception of risk. Benefit-sharing which extends beyond energy could enhance regional integration and improve sustainable development within the basin . THE OMO-TURKANA RIVER BASIN potential for hydropower and irrigation schemes that are, if scientifically and equitably managed, crucial to lift millions within and outside the basin out of extreme poverty; this has led to transboundary cooperation in recent years. This policy brief is derived from research conducted under the €5.5M four-year EU Horizon 2020 and Swiss funded ‘DAFNE’ project which concerns the promotion of integrated and adaptive water resources management, explicitly addressing the WEF Nexus and aiming to promote a sustainable economy in regions where new infrastructure and expanding The Omo-Turkana River Basin (OTB) – for the agriculture has to be balanced with social, purposes of the DAFNE Project – comprises of economic and environmental needs. The project two main water bodies: the Omo River in takes a multi- and interdisciplinary approach to Ethiopia and Lake Turkana which it drains into. the formation of a decision analytical While the Omo River lies entirely within Ethiopian territory, Lake Turkana is shared by framework (DAF) for participatory and both Kenya and Ethiopia, with the majority of integrated planning, to allow the evaluation of Lake Turkana residing within Kenya.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Volcanism and the State of Stress in the East African Rift System
    Historical volcanism and the state of stress in the East African Rift System Article Accepted Version Open Access Wadge, G., Biggs, J., Lloyd, R. and Kendall, J.-M. (2016) Historical volcanism and the state of stress in the East African Rift System. Frontiers in Earth Science, 4. 86. ISSN 2296- 6463 doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2016.00086 Available at http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/66786/ It is advisable to refer to the publisher’s version if you intend to cite from the work. See Guidance on citing . To link to this article DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/feart.2016.00086 Publisher: Frontiers media All outputs in CentAUR are protected by Intellectual Property Rights law, including copyright law. Copyright and IPR is retained by the creators or other copyright holders. Terms and conditions for use of this material are defined in the End User Agreement . www.reading.ac.uk/centaur CentAUR Central Archive at the University of Reading Reading’s research outputs online 1 Historical volcanism and the state of stress in the East African 2 Rift System 3 4 5 G. Wadge1*, J. Biggs2, R. Lloyd2, J-M. Kendall2 6 7 8 1.COMET, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, UK 9 2.COMET, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK 10 11 * [email protected] 12 13 14 Keywords: crustal stress, historical eruptions, East African Rift, oblique motion, 15 eruption dynamics 16 17 18 19 20 21 Abstract 22 23 Crustal extension at the East African Rift System (EARS) should, as a tectonic ideal, 24 involve a stress field in which the direction of minimum horizontal stress is 25 perpendicular to the rift.
    [Show full text]
  • 2009 Trip Report KENYA
    KENYA and TANZANIA TRIP REPORT Sept 25-Oct 23, 2009 PART 1 - Classic Kenya text and photos by Adrian Binns Sept 25 / Day 1: Blue Post Thika; Castle Forest We began the morning with an unexpected Little Sparrowhawk followed by a Great Sparrowhawk, both in the skies across the main road from the Blue Post Hotel in Thika. The lush grounds of the Blue Post are bordered by the twin waterfalls of the Chania and Thika, both rivers originating from the nearby Aberdare Mountain Range. It is a good place to get aquatinted with some of the more common birds, especially as most can be seen in close proximity and very well. Eastern Black-headed Oriole, Cinnamon-chested Bee- eater, Little Bee-eater, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Collared Sunbird, Bronzed Mannikin, Speckled Mousebird and Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird were easily found. Looking down along the river course and around the thundering waterfall we found a pair of Giant Kingfishers as well as Great Cormorant, Grey Heron and Common Sandpiper, and two Nile Monitors slipped behind large boulders. A fruiting tree provided a feast for Yellow-rumped Seedeaters, Violet-backed Starlings, Spot-flanked Barbet (right), White-headed Barbet as a Grey-headed Kingfisher, an open woodland bird, made sorties from a nearby perch. www.wildsidenaturetours.com www.eastafricanwildlifesafaris.com © Adrian Binns Page 1 It was a gorgeous afternoon at the Castle Forest Lodge set deep in forested foothills of the southern slope of Mt. Kenya. While having lunch on the verandah, overlooking a fabulous valley below, we had circling Long-crested Eagle (above right), a distant Mountain Buzzard and African Harrier Hawk.
    [Show full text]
  • An Electrical Resistivity Study of the Area Between Mt. Suswa and The
    AN ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY STUDY OF THE AREA BETWEEN MT. SUSWA AND * M THE OLKARIA GEOTHERMAL FIELD, KENYA STEPHEN ALUMASA ONACONACHA IIS TUF.sis n\sS rREEN e e n ACCEPTED m ^ e i t e d ^ fFOE HE DECREE of nd A COt'V M&vA7 BE PLACED IN 'TH& njivk.RSITY LIBRARY. A thesis submitted in accordance with the requirement for partial fulfillment of the V Degree of Master of Science DEPT. OF GEOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI 1989 DECLARATION jhis is my original work and has not b e e n submitted for a degree in any other university S . A . ONACHA The thesis has been submitted for examination with our Knowledge as University Supervisors: /] Mr. E. DINDI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank my supervisors Dr. M.P. Tole and Mr. E. Dindi for their invaluable help and advice during the course of ray studies. I am grateful to the staff of the Ministry of Energy especially Mr. Kinyariro and Mr. Kilele for their tremendous help during the data acquisition. I also wish to express my appreciation of the University of Nairobi for their MSc Scholarship during my study. I am grateful to the British Council for their fellowship that enabled me to carry out data analysis at the University of Edinburgh. A ^ Finally, I wish to thank the members of my family for their love and understanding during my studies. ABSTRACT The D. C. electrical resistivity study of Suswa-Olkaria region was carried out from July 1987 to November, 1988. The main objective was to evaluate the sub-surface geoelectric structure with a view to determining layers that might be associated with geothermal fluid migrations.
    [Show full text]
  • Lake Turkana and the Lower Omo the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Account for 50% of Kenya’S Livestock Production (Snyder, 2006)
    Lake Turkana & the Lower Omo: Hydrological Impacts of Major Dam & Irrigation Development REPORT African Studies Centre Sean Avery (BSc., PhD., C.Eng., C. Env.) © Antonella865 | Dreamstime © Antonella865 Consultant’s email: [email protected] Web: www.watres.com LAKE TURKANA & THE LOWER OMO: HYDROLOGICAL IMPACTS OF MAJOR DAM & IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENTS CONTENTS – VOLUME I REPORT Chapter Description Page EXECUTIVE(SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................1! 1! INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 12! 1.1! THE(CONTEXT ........................................................................................................................................ 12! 1.2! THE(ASSIGNMENT .................................................................................................................................. 14! 1.3! METHODOLOGY...................................................................................................................................... 15! 2! DEVELOPMENT(PLANNING(IN(THE(OMO(BASIN ......................................................................... 18! 2.1! INTRODUCTION(AND(SUMMARY(OVERVIEW(OF(FINDINGS................................................................... 18! 2.2! OMO?GIBE(BASIN(MASTER(PLAN(STUDY,(DECEMBER(1996..............................................................19! 2.2.1! OMO'GIBE!BASIN!MASTER!PLAN!'!TERMS!OF!REFERENCE...........................................................................19!
    [Show full text]
  • Lake Turkana Archaeology: the Holocene
    Lake Turkana Archaeology: The Holocene Lawrence H. Robbins, Michigan State University Abstract. Pioneering research in the Holocene archaeology of Lake Turkana con- tributed significantly to the development of broader issues in the prehistory of Africa, including the aquatic civilization model and the initial spread of domes- ticated livestock in East Africa. These topics are reviewed following retrospective discussion of the nature of pioneering fieldwork carried out in the area in the1960s. The early research at Lake Turkana uncovered the oldest pottery in East Africa as well as large numbers of bone harpoons similar to those found along the Nile Valley and elsewhere in Africa. The Lake Turkana area remains one of the major building blocks in the interpretation of the later prehistory of Africa as a whole, just as it is a key area for understanding the early phases of human evolution. Our way had at first led us up hills of volcanic origin. I can’t imagine landscape more barren, dried out and grim. At 1.22 pm the Bassonarok appeared, an enormous lake of blue water dotted with some islands. The northern shores cannot be seen. At its southern end it must be about 20 kilometers wide. As far as the eye can see are barren and volcanic shores. I give it the name of Lake Rudolf. (Teleki 1965 [1886–95]: 5 March 1888) From yesterday’s campsite we could overlook nearly the whole western and north- ern shores of the lake. The soil here is different again. I observed a lot of conglom- erates and fossils (petrification).
    [Show full text]
  • Alcolapia Grahami ERSS
    Lake Magadi Tilapia (Alcolapia grahami) Ecological Risk Screening Summary U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, March 2015 Revised, August 2017, October 2017 Web Version, 8/21/2018 1 Native Range and Status in the United States Native Range From Bayona and Akinyi (2006): “The natural range of this species is restricted to a single location: Lake Magadi [Kenya].” Status in the United States No records of Alcolapia grahami in the wild or in trade in the United States were found. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has listed the tilapia Alcolapia grahami as a prohibited species. Prohibited nonnative species (FFWCC 2018), “are considered to be dangerous to the ecology and/or the health and welfare of the people of Florida. These species are not allowed to be personally possessed or used for commercial activities.” Means of Introductions in the United States No records of Alcolapia grahami in the United States were found. 1 Remarks From Bayona and Akinyi (2006): “Vulnerable D2 ver 3.1” Various sources use Alcolapia grahami (Eschmeyer et al. 2017) or Oreochromis grahami (ITIS 2017) as the accepted name for this species. Information searches were conducted under both names to ensure completeness of the data gathered. 2 Biology and Ecology Taxonomic Hierarchy and Taxonomic Standing According to Eschmeyer et al. (2017), Alcolapia grahami (Boulenger 1912) is the current valid name for this species. It was originally described as Tilapia grahami; it has also been known as Oreoghromis grahami, and as a synonym, but valid subspecies, of
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of the East Africa Natural History Society and National Museum
    JOURNAL OF THE EAST AFRICA NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY AND NATIONAL MUSEUM 15 October, 1978 Vol. 31 No. 167 A CHECKLIST OF mE SNAKES OF KENYA Stephen Spawls 35 WQodland Rise, Muswell Hill, London NIO, England ABSTRACT Loveridge (1957) lists 161 species and subspecies of snake from East Mrica. Eighty-nine of these belonging to some 41 genera were recorded from Kenya. The new list contains some 106 forms of 46 genera. - Three full species have been deleted from Loveridge's original checklist. Typhlops b. blanfordii has been synonymised with Typhlops I. lineolatus, Typhlops kaimosae has been synonymised with Typhlops angolensis (Roux-Esteve 1974) and Co/uber citeroii has been synonymised with Meizodon semiornatus (Lanza 1963). Of the 20 forms added to the list, 12 are forms collected for the first time in Kenya but occurring outside its political boundaries and one, Atheris desaixi is a new species, the holotype and paratypes being collected within Kenya. There has also been a large number of changes amongst the 89 original species as a result of revisionary systematic studies. This accounts for the other additions to the list. INTRODUCTION The most recent checklist dealing with the snakes of Kenya is Loveridge (1957). Since that date there has been a significant number of developments in the Kenyan herpetological field. This paper intends to update the nomenclature in the part of the checklist that concerns the snakes of Kenya and to extend the list to include all the species now known to occur within the political boundaries of Kenya. It also provides the range of each species within Kenya with specific locality records .
    [Show full text]
  • Lake Turkana National Parks - 2017 Conservation Outlook Assessment (Archived)
    IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Lake Turkana National Parks - 2017 Conservation Outlook Assessment (archived) IUCN Conservation Outlook Assessment 2017 (archived) Finalised on 26 October 2017 Please note: this is an archived Conservation Outlook Assessment for Lake Turkana National Parks. To access the most up-to-date Conservation Outlook Assessment for this site, please visit https://www.worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org. Lake Turkana National Parks عقوملا تامولعم Country: Kenya Inscribed in: 1997 Criteria: (viii) (x) The most saline of Africa's large lakes, Turkana is an outstanding laboratory for the study of plant and animal communities. The three National Parks serve as a stopover for migrant waterfowl and are major breeding grounds for the Nile crocodile, hippopotamus and a variety of venomous snakes. The Koobi Fora deposits, rich in mammalian, molluscan and other fossil remains, have contributed more to the understanding of paleo-environments than any other site on the continent. © UNESCO صخلملا 2017 Conservation Outlook Critical Lake Turkana’s unique qualities as a large lake in a desert environment are under threat as the demands for water for development escalate and the financial capital to build major dams becomes available. Historically, the lake’s level has been subject to natural fluctuations in response to the vicissitudes of climate, with the inflow of water broadly matching the amount lost through evaporation (as the lake basin has no outflow). The lake’s major source of water, Ethiopia’s Omo River is being developed with a series of major hydropower dams and irrigated agricultural schemes, in particular sugar and other crop plantations.
    [Show full text]
  • Maps, Power, and the Destruction of the Mau Forest in Kenya
    Science & Technology Maps, Power, and the Destruction of the Mau Forest in Kenya Jacqueline M. Klopp and Job Kipkosgei Sang Tropical forests, which provide rich resources and criti- Jacqueline Klopp is 1 an assistant professor cal eco-services, are under severe stress. Some theories of international and regarding the causes of this stress emphasize “irreducible public affairs at the complexity,”2 while others point to specific factors, such School of International and Public Affairs at as population pressures or human encroachment through Columbia University. 3 “shifting cultivation.” Deforestation is indeed complex, Dr. Klopp’s research in part because it is linked not only to economic and social focuses on the intersec- tion of development, dynamics at both global and local levels, but also to questions democratization, vio- 4 of power and politics. Nowhere is this more evident than in lence, and corruption. the ongoing struggle over the Mau Forest in Kenya. Spanning 900 km2, the Mau forest is a complex of six- teen contiguous forests and six separated satellite forests. Together, they form a single ecosystem and make up the largest remaining indigenous forest in East Africa. While less is known about this forest than many other East African forests, the Mau forests complex is immensely important, as it serves as a catchment for rivers west of the Great Rift Valley. These rivers in turn feed major lakes in the region, including Lake Nakuru and the trans-boundary lakes of Lake Victoria in the Nile River Basin, Lake Turkana in Kenya and Ethiopia, and Lake Natron in Tanzania and Kenya.
    [Show full text]
  • Kenyan Stone Age: the Louis Leakey Collection
    World Archaeology at the Pitt Rivers Museum: A Characterization edited by Dan Hicks and Alice Stevenson, Archaeopress 2013, pages 35-21 3 Kenyan Stone Age: the Louis Leakey Collection Ceri Shipton Access 3.1 Introduction Louis Seymour Bazett Leakey is considered to be the founding father of palaeoanthropology, and his donation of some 6,747 artefacts from several Kenyan sites to the Pitt Rivers Museum (PRM) make his one of the largest collections in the Museum. Leakey was passionate aboutopen human evolution and Africa, and was able to prove that the deep roots of human ancestry lay in his native east Africa. At Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania he excavated an extraordinary sequence of Pleistocene human evolution, discovering several hominin species and naming the earliest known human culture: the Oldowan. At Olorgesailie, Kenya, he excavated an Acheulean site that is still influential in our understanding of Lower Pleistocene human behaviour. On Rusinga Island in Lake Victoria, Kenya he found the Miocene ape ancestor Proconsul. He obtained funding to establish three of the most influential primatologists in their field, dubbed Leakey’s ‘ape women’; Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Birute Galdikas, who pioneered the study of chimpanzee, gorilla and orangutan behaviour respectively. His second wife Mary Leakey, whom he first hired as an artefact illustrator, went on to be a great researcher in her own right, surpassing Louis’ work with her own excavations at Olduvai Gorge. Mary and Louis’ son Richard followed his parents’ career path initially, discovering many of the most important hominin fossils including KNM WT 15000 (the Nariokotome boy, a near complete Homo ergaster skeleton), KNM WT 17000 (the type specimen for Paranthropus aethiopicus), and KNM ER 1470 (the type specimen for Homo rudolfensis with an extremely well preserved Archaeopressendocranium).
    [Show full text]
  • In Water Composition Due to Abstraction of Soda Ash. Impact
    Chapter 6 - Lake Natron Soda Ash ESIA 6 - 8 in water composition due to abstraction of soda ash. Impact: Introduction of animal pests and pathogens to the Lake system Impact No. B/E 3 Changes in disease vector populations Ranking: Negative slight Characteristics: Domestic waste attracting pests. Abandoned borrow pits providing mosquito breeding sites. Increase in introduction of vectors through increased human and vehicle movement. Impact: Loss of fresh water habitats in the Lake due to dry season abstraction Impact No. B/E 4 Changes in aquatic biota Ranking: Negative slight Characteristics: Abstraction of surface water from the Wosi Wosi River Impact: The Cyperus laevigatus sedgelands surrounding the semi sodic springs in the southern and eastern sides of the Lake form critical late dry season grazing for domestic stock and wildlife. Increased pressure or disturbance could deplete the remaining wildlife populations Impact No. B/E 5 Changes in terrestrial plant populations Ranking: Negative moderate Characteristics: Access road along east side of the Lake would threaten the use of 400 ha of dry season grazing. This area has a stocking rate of at least 2.5 LSU/ha during he dry season Impact: Introduction of alien invasive plant and animal species Impact No. B/E 5 Changes in terrestrial plant (and animal) populations Ranking: Negative slight Characteristics: Concerns relating to construction activities, the development of domestic gardens, the introduction of brine shrimp into the process Impact: Illegal hunting activities will increase with human immigration into the area Impact No. B/E 6 Changes in terrestrial wildlife populations Ranking: Negative slight Characteristics: There is a present decline in rare wildlife species such as gerenuk and Coir bustard and local extinction of rhino and Oryx due to increased pressure on grazing resources and increased poaching.
    [Show full text]