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MAU COMPLEX UNDER SIEGE MAU COMPLEX UNDER SIEGE Introductionvalues Threats the Mau Complex Covers Ha, As Large Some 400,000 and Theas Mt

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MAU COMPLEX UNDER SIEGE MAU COMPLEX UNDER SIEGE Introductionvalues Threats the Mau Complex Covers Ha, As Large Some 400,000 and Theas Mt Introduction Threats MAUMAU COMPLEXCOMPLEX UNDERUNDER SIEGESIEGE ContinuousContinuous destructiondestruction ofof Values Kenya’sKenya’s largestlargest forestforest A presentation by: UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE KENYA FORESTS WORKING GROUP June 2005 Location and extent of the Mau Complex n a d u S E t Introduction Threats 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 AberdaresAberdares combined. combined. ItIt is is the the largest largest forest forest of of Kenya.Kenya. Values AsAs a a montane montane forest, 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”towers” of of Kenya, Kenya, with with Mt. Mt. Kenya,Kenya, the the Aberdare Aberdare Range,Range, Mt. Mt. Elgon Elgon and and the the CherenganiCherengani Hills. Hills. n T a a n e z a c n i a O n a i d n I Mau Complex: a key catchment area TheThe Mau Mau Complex Complex forms forms the the Introduction Threats 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) • Mara River (Î Lake Victoria) • Mara River (Î Lake Victoria) Values • 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) • 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) Sondu-Miriu hydropower plant 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 Threats Kerio Valley National Reserve 2 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) 23 Lake Natron 8 5 Lake Natron • Main breeding area for the flamingoes • Main breeding area for the flamingoes 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 • Only remnant in Kenya of the Guineo- • Only remnant in Kenya of the Guineo- Congolian forest ecosystem Congolian forest ecosystem • High biodiversity (birds, butterflies, plants…) • High biodiversity (birds, butterflies, plants…) People’s dependence on the Mau Complex A large majority of Kenya’s A large majority of Kenya’s Introduction Threats 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. Over Over 3 3 millionmillion people people live live in in the the sub- sub- locationslocations crossed crossed by by these these rivers.rivers. Values InIn addition addition the the Mau Mau Complex Complex providesprovides environmental environmental servicesservices essential essential to to crop crop productionproduction (continuous (continuous river river flow,flow, favourable favourable micro-climate micro-climate conditions)conditions) as as well well as as many many productsproducts (medicinal (medicinal plants, plants, firewoodfirewood and and grazing). grazing). Mau Complex: key micro-climate regulator for crops Tea growing areas are located near montane forests where conditions for optimum tea production are met: ● Constant moisture Introduction Threats ● 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), Tinderet and Northern Tinderet forests . Values Source: The Tea Map of Kenya, The Tea Board of Kenya, 2003 Forest excisions: a major threat in the Mau Complex In 2001, the Government excised over 67,000 hectares of forest reserve land, mainly in the Mau Complex. The largest excised area extends over the top of the Mau escarpment (Eastern Mau FR), Introduction Threats impacting tremendously on water resources: drying boreholes (Egerton University), drying rivers (Njoro). Settlements in such location are unsustainable, as water resources are declining very fast. Values Lake Victoria Lake Eastern Nakuru South West Mau FR Threats Mau FR Forest boundaries 2001 excisions IntroductionValues Threats Forest excisions: a major threat in the Mau Complex IntroductionValues Threats Location of major forest cover losses in the Mau Complex Eastern Mau Forest: impact of destruction on Lake Nakuru Introduction Threats Values T hreats Loss of dense vegetation cover between 1973 – 2003 Loss of dense vegetation cover between 1973 – 2003 Legend Inside forest reserves: 15,820 hectares Forest Reserves Inside forest reserves: 15,820 hectares Lake Nakuru catchment Outside forest reserves: 20,960 hectares Outside forest reserves: 20,960 hectares Lake Nakuru National Park Total: 36,780 hectares Total: 36,780 hectares Sources representing 49 % of the dense vegetation cover in the representing 49 % of the dense vegetation cover in the - Landsat MSS and ETM images. False colour composition catchment of Lake Nakuru - Forest boundaries: KIFCON project, Forest Department catchment of Lake Nakuru Molo Forest Molo Forest (902 hectares) is located in the centre of the upper catchments of the Molo River, one of the two main tributaries of Lake Baringo. The forest has been clear cut and excised in 2001. However, Introduction Threats it is only sparsely settled and could be replanted with trees. Values T hreats Transmara Forest Reserve: private tea estates Kiptagich Tea Estate Introduction Threats Location: Transmara Forest Reserve Area: 937.7 hectares Status: gazetted forest Excision Gazette Notice: 3 March 1989 Excision Legal Notice: none Values T h reats Photograph taken on 28 June 2004 Flight path Photographs 2001 Excisions Transmara Forest Reserve: private tea estates Introduction Threats Tea growing outside the Estate in the neighbouring gazetted indigenous forest Values T hreats Landsat, 4 February 2003 Transmara Forest Reserve: private tea estates Private Estate Introduction Threats Location: Transmara Forest Reserve Area: ~200 hectares Status: gazetted forest Values T hreats Landsat, 4 February 2003 Maasai Mau: key values The Maasai Mau forest (46,278 hectares) is comprised exclusively of indigenous forest. It is a critical natural assets, in terms of water catchment, micro-climate regulation, biological diversity and Introduction Threats tourism development. Water catchment value The Maasai Mau forest is the main upper catchment of the Ewaso Nyiro River which provides the much needed water to pastoralist communities. The River is also the main tributary of Lake Natron, which is the breeding area for the flamingoes of the Rift Valley. Values To the west, the Maasai Mau forest is part of the upper catchment of the Mara River. Wildlife and tourism development The southern forests of the Mau Complex are rich in biological diversity in terms fauna and flora. They host ungulates such as the Bongo and the yellow-backed Duiker; carnivores, including the Golden Cat and the Leopard; and the forest elephant. The forest of the Maasai Mau, in particular, comprises large stands of cedar and podocarpus forests with scattered natural glades. The Maasai Mau forest is a major asset for tourism development. It could become a twin conservation areas with the Maasai Mara National Reserve 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 Threats the boundaries. More recently, encroachments have taken
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