Fence Maintenance

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE RHINO ARK CHARITABLE TRUST ISSUE 56 | MAY 2020

FENCE MAINTENANCE:

A TEAM EFFORT THAT REQUIRES CONTINUED SUPPORT

page 9 page 12 page 23 SPECIAL EBURU FARMERS CONSERVATION FORMALIZING THE COVID-19 TAKE TO BIOGAS EDUCATION INITIATIVE PARTNERSHIP FOR TO CONSERVE THE BRINGS BIG GAINS TO FENCING KAKAMEGA ISSUE FOREST SOUTH WESTERN MAU FOREST SCHOOLS Remote Teaching and Learning #strongertogether

Conﬁdent Individuals Responsible Citizens Learners Enjoying Success braeburn.com Executive Director’s view

CHRISTIAN LAMBRECHTS

We are in an era of unprecedented focus on the conservation of nature and forests, driven by the need to secure our collective sustainable future. Cover picture by Adam Mwangi

Amid the disruptions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, there INSIDE ARKIVE remains a constant, most challenging threat in the background: climate change. Every year new reports are published observing that the changes are worse than predicted and that we are reaching 03 Executive Director’s View dangerous tipping points beyond which changes are irreversible. 04 Special Feature But solutions exist. In a 2018 special Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, the global scientific community 07 Mau Eburu Ecosystem highlighted the key role that forests will play in all pathways to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. 12 South Western Mau Ecosystem

16 Mt. Kenya Ecosystem Here in Kenya, each of us have experienced the impacts of climate change. Rainy seasons are becoming more variable and extreme 20 Aberdare Ecosystem rainfall events more frequent. Our mountain areas are experiencing reduced cloudiness, making our forests drier and more vulnerable 23 Kakamega Ecosystem to fires in the dry seasons. These changes impact tremendously on 24 Chargers Corner our water resources.

• Thank You 27 Rhino Ark’s conservation approach has proven to be very effective • Friends of Rhino Ark towards mitigating the impacts of climate change by increasing the resilience of our mountain forests, our most vital ecosystems. These ‘water towers’ are the source of major rivers that provide the much-needed water to Nairobi which is the key contributor Photography by: to Kenya’s GDP. These rivers support the livelihoods of millions Christian Lambrechts, Eric Kihiu, of households in the rural areas and are the lifeline of key Zach Okoth, Adam Mwangi, conservation and tourism areas downstream. Joseph Mutongu, Thomas Mutai, Peter Munene, Donna Sheppard, Thanks to the continued support of a wide community of friends, Alfonse Kiprono Rhino Chargers, supporters and well-wishers concerned with the future of this nation, Rhino Ark has developed and implemented a portfolio of targeted conservation initiatives that protect, conserve and help restore our water towers. Our conservation achievements RHINO ARK OBJECTIVES over the past 31 years are considerable - with 650 km of fence Rhino Ark seeks solutions to the challenges facing the mountain forest built, over 500,000 hectares of mountain forests better protected, ecosystems of Kenya, also known as the water towers. More specifically, over 80,000 Kenyan families directly secured from the danger of Rhino Ark aims to: human-wildlife conflicts, and 178 schools engaged in conservation (i) Protect Kenya’s mountain forests, other threatened habitats and education, among others. their rich biodiversity; (ii) Engage and educate adjacent communities in conservation; The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting all of us. It is reminding us that (iii) Secure the connectivity between mountain forests and other we are an integral part of the environment and that the way we threatened wildlife habitats; interact with nature in turn impacts on us - our health, well-being (iv) Establish sustainable financing mechanisms for the conservation of and our economic development. mountain forests and other threatened wildlife habitats;

(v) Advocate nationally and internationally for the conservation of the Even as we grapple with COVID-19’s far-reaching impacts, we must CONTENTS mountain forests and other threatened habitats, their wildlife and remain focussed on what has brought us together: our common their ecological functions; and, vision of safeguarding our water towers for the benefit of Kenya (vi) Use science to assess the impacts of, and review conservation and its people. We have an extraordinary conservation legacy that interventions. we must continue to cherish and support. OF TABLE 3 4 SPECIAL FEATURE adjacent communities ononehand,andprotecting vulnerable wildlife a novel solution: investing insafeguarding thelivelihoods offorest around ourmountainforests. Itheralded theentryof RhinoArkwith 1989 marked anew beginning forthehuman-wildliferelationship mounting casualtiesonbothsides. A perpetualcycle ofconflictbetween humansandwildlife,with community membersthatlive adjacenttoKenya’s mountainforests: For decades,thishadbeentheexperience fortensofthousands and invest. season,make toplan itdifficult These continuedlosses,seasonafter uncertainty. You regularly lose your crops and livestock to wildlife. but usuallytoolatetoprevent thedamage.You live infearand when calledupontohelp,may cometochase away thewildlife, Conventional fences around your farm don’t work. The authorities, sheep orgoatsinonenightbutonlytakingone. potato crop. Leopard raid your livestock, sometimes killing tens of Bush-pig invade your farmundercover ofdarknessanddigupyour and you are powerless tostopthem. robbing you ofyour potentialharvest. Theseare dangerous animals, of elephantemerge from theforest andrampage through your farm, and thefuture looksbright.Butevery disasterstrikes! Herds sooften, You have healthylivestock. You have themeanstosustainyour family, vegetables. andfoodcropssuch asteaorcoffee suchasmaize, potatoesand mountain forest onaproductive farm.You grow lucrative cashcrops You are ahardworking Kenyan farmer, livingnext toaverdant Elephant maraudingthroughvillage FENCES WITH APURPOSE FENCES GREATLY IMPRO AND MAJORIMPACTS: LIVES OF80,000FAMILIES KENYANS BENEFITTING VED, MILLIONSOF Fence protectingadjacent farmlands Ark, government conservation agencies,andtheforest adjacent anchored inadurable between public/private Rhino partnership conservation, 1.6billionKenya worth Shillings(US$16 million).Itis The fencingsolutionrepresents amammothinvestment in systems. buildings, vehicles, andcomprehensive managementandmonitoring posts, 5,200 km of fencing wire, elephant grids, solar power systems, Kenya andMauEburu.This“live” systemincludesover 65,000fence been builtsofarinthree mountainecosystems:TheAberdare, Mount initiative. 650kilometres ofthegame-proof electrifiedfenceshave 31 years hence,muchhasbeenachieved through RhinoArk’s on theotherthrough buildingofgame-proof fences. threat. Thishasinturncreated apositive environment forcommunities appreciate theforests andtheirwildlifeas aresource rather thana Resolving human/wildlifeconflict hasenabledlocalcommunities to Community engagementinconservation the fenceshave madetheirareas more secure. easily slippingacross undetected.Communitymembersobserve that elements thatpreviously usedtheforest as thebasefortheiractivities, In addition,thefencedboundaryhasprovided adeterrent tocriminal has essentiallyeliminatedthecattlerustlingproblem inmanyareas. that peoplecanonlyaccesstheforest through managedgates.This porous forest boundary. The650kilometersoffencingbuiltmeans Rustlers would raid farmsandquicklydrive thelivestock through the communities: cattlerustlingwasacommon-placeoccurrence. Fencing hasresolved anage-oldproblem that onceaffected Increased security utilize theirfarmsmore effectively. This network ishelpingcommunities diversify theirincomebasesand systems, fruitfarming,ecotourismandbioenterprise,amongothers. and capacitybuildinginactivitiesasdiverse asestablishingbiogas for community water projects,facilitated support on-farm training withresourcefullocal communitiesbuildrapport They have partners. theirlivelihood programmes.support Theseforumshave enabled communities withapoolofexperts andtechnicalresources that Rhino Arktomaintainfencesalsodoubleupasforumsnetwork The collaborative multi-stakeholder frameworks establishedby potential, helpingfarmerstoearnmore from theirfarms. appropriately. This has directly translated into increasing economic These farmers,now assured oftheirharvests and canplanandinvest 600%. adjacent farms have dramatically increased, in some cases by over kilometer Eburu fence, this has changed. Land values for forest the heavy lossessuffered completionofthe43.3 from wildlife.After away dueto their land,someoptinginsteadtoleaselandfurther In Eburuforest, farmerswithlandattheforest edgecouldnotfarm Increased farmproductivity andlandvalues longer have thisproblem. prevented school children from goingtoschool.Now, communities no invillagesduringtheday also at night.Sightingsofelephantorbuffalo wildlife imposedaformof“lockdown” onthecommunity, particularly In someareas, before thefenceswere built,thepresence ofdangerous Freedom ofmovement inside theforest. on theirfarms.Thefenceshave incontainingwildlife beeneffective Communities nolongerhave tocontendwiththethreat ofwildlife Human/wildlife conflictresolved elephant. and property from thedangersofmarauding wildlife, inparticular “life anddeath”. Thefencesdirectly safeguard theirlives, livelihoods and MauEburuforests. To them,our fencesare literally amatterof fences builttodateby RhinoArkaround theAberdare, Mt.Kenya Over 80,000Kenyan familiesreside next tothe650kmofelectric What impacthasthisinitiative had? and localinternationaldonorshasmadethisinvestment possible. annual RhinoCharge fundraising event, friendsofRhinoArkoverseas ofthousandsKenyanscommunities. Thesupport through the worth astaggeringamount ofKES412worth billion($4.12 billion). mountain ecosystems provide yearly ecological servicestoKenya which isthekey contributortoKenya’s GDP. Together thesethree source ofmajor rivers thatprovide themuch-neededwatertoNairobi operating, are thethree largest watertowers ofKenya. They are the The Aberdares, Mt.Kenya andtheMauForest where RhinoArkis water catchmentforests from destructionthrough illegallogging. Ark’s fencesdirectly benefitthenationatlarge. They protect critical Beyond theimmediatebenefitstoforest adjacentcommunities,Rhino Benefits ofthefencetonation broadening theirperspectives. in theUnitedKingdom,givingtheminternationalexposure and forschoolchildrentwinning opportunities withpupilsfrom schools landscape. Thisrun,now initstenthconsecutive year, hasledto awareness forschoolchildren in100 schoolsaround theAberdare The annualAberdare Fence Relay Runprovides conservation the forest landscapesinwhichRhinoArkoperates. invaluable contribution to theconservation of endangered species and patrols, remove wildlife snares and collectscientificdata.They make an Project (BSP)comprisehighlytrained scoutswhocarryoutforest The Aberdare JointSurveillance Unit(AJSU),andtheBongoSurveillance from whichthey earnaliving. Community-based teamswork inspecialconservation programmes, and managementoftree nurseriesfrom whichthey earnincomes. including forest rehabilitation (tree growing) and establishment Communities are involved inforest conservation activities employed inmaintainingthefences. income from thiswork. Presently, 174 communitymembersare labour drawn from forest-adjacent communities, who have earned inconservation. Thefencesareto participate builtprimarily with Ezra Magutu,OlJorai(Eburu) has beenaddressed.” returned tothem,andthelivestocktheftproblem because ofwildlife,myselfincluded,havenow own trees.Peoplewhohadabandonedtheirfarms farming. Also,peoplearenowkeentoplanttheir problem andforcedtheperpetratorstobegin has curbedtheillegalforestcharcoalandlogging Now Ihaveobservedabehaviourchange.Thefence problem. and sellingit.Livestocktheftwasalsoacommon themselves byillegallymakingcharcoalintheforest people didnotevenfarmastheyusedtosustain of treecover.Some farms weredevoid my ownfarm.The forced toabandon bad thatIwas situation wasso and baboon.The buffalo, porcupine able tofarmdue was built,Inot Before thefence

5 MAU EBURU NEWS 6 SPECIAL FEATURE housed incampsbuiltalongthefenceline.Eachattendantcovers 4 from the community. They are well trained, well equipped, and Maintenance begins withthe full-time fence attendants, recruited escape theforests andcausehavoc inthecommunity. Even afew hoursofdown-time canprovide awindow forwildlifeto the fencesremain fullyfunctionalonacontinuous“24/7,365”basis. Rhino Arkannuallycommitsconsiderable resources toensure that Maintenance costs KES 80,000 ($800) per kilometre per year, and to build.Ourfencesare “live”, andoncebuilt,mustbemaintained. One kilometre ofelectrifiedfencecostsKES2.5million($25,000) Let’s keep ourfencesalive the country. water catchments are acritical engine for economic development in relies almostentirely ontheAberdares foritswater supply. These capital, Nairobi, theaxisaround whicheconomicgrowth revolves, provide power forindustriesandsustaintourismactivities.Our that flow from themprovide watertocommunities,towns andcities, Mau forests sustainthelivelihoods ofmillionsKenyans. Therivers The ecologicalbenefitsderived from theAberdare, Mt. Kenya and Mzee Thuranira (89yearsold),Mt.Kenya a sourceofjoy”. ngoma” willnolongerbea source ofoursufferingbut see thisfencingprojectand theformer“Mutituwa incidences ofraidsbyelephants. Iamveryexcitedto next tomyfarmandthat’swhy weusedtohavehigh crossing thatelephantsuse tocrossRiverKathitais owing tothelossescausedbyelephants.Theonlyriver farming. Icompletelyabandonedgrowingfoodcrops raided myfarmandthismademetoresorttea Peter Kibuka,Bondeni(Aberdares) father whentherewasnofence.” children. Itwasmuch easier formethanitwasmy to earnalivelihoodfrommyfarmandeducate they couldnotdobeforethefence.Ihavebeenable confident enoughtogrowhorticulturalcrops,which improved andlandvaluesareup.Farmersnow school. Farmingproductivityintheareahasgreatly spirits). Elephants (Forest filledwithevil as “Mutituwangoma” regarded thisforest villagers havealways and myfellow of Mt.KenyaForest immediate neighbour My farmisthe children enrolledin the numberof school aswell performance in improve children’s has helpedto environment. It created asecure “The fencehas Fence maintenancework monthly onsitetoinspectthefence,togetherwithrepresentatives Rhino Ark,Kenya WildlifeServiceandKenya Forest Servicemeet oftheproject Committees comprisingtechnicalofficers partners, robust institutionalframework fundedby RhinoArk.Fence Technical Management oversight offencemaintenanceisanchored ina materials andpeopletofrom remote fencelocations. provide forfenceoperations, enablingmovement support of A dedicatedRhinoArkfleetof8duty4x4off-road pick-uptrucks standards. the fences, ensuring that the maintenance work conforms to set Using motorcycles, they patrol theirrespective zones toinspect Overseeing thefenceattendantsisateamof10 fencesupervisors. Rhino Arkfenceprojects. Currently, there are 176 fenceattendantsengagedacross the3 the same,actingaseyes andearsforthepark/forest management. They alsolookoutforanyevidence ofillegalactivityandreport on fence damagearisingfrom natural causesorillegalhumanactivity. zone, equatingtoabout4hectares ofclearingdaily. They repair line toclearvegetation growth from the10-metre-wide fencebuffer kilometres offenceline.Theirdailydutiesincludepatrolling thefence and itspeople. our conservation achievements remain ourlegacyforthiscountry together through thisuniquely challengingperiodandensure that impactful conservation projects inKenya. Let’s continueworking weThanks toyour have support, established oneofthemost concerns fortheconservation oftheenvironment. brothers living inthehighlandsnext totheforests andhave profound andwell-wishers - who lovesupporters thiscountry, care fortheir of alarge communityoflike-minded persons–friends,chargers, and maintainingthefencesare theresult ofthecollective effort The conservation gains realized through the investment in building millions ofKenyans beyond. serves tensofthousandsforest adjacentcommunitymembersand across three ecosystems fullyoperational isacriticalfunctionthat maintain our fences. Despite, our work continues. Keeping our fences fund-raising activitiesthatprovide of the resources part neededto Ark’s conservation work, impactingadversely onourannualcycle of The COVID-19 pandemichas presented special challenges to Rhino Working despite COVID-19 pandemicchallenges toaddressis convened quarterly anypolicylevel issues. Management Committeecomprisingtopmanagementofthepartners own technical committee. For each of the projects, a Joint Senior and resolves arisingissues.Eachofthethree fenceprojects hasits of community and the National administration. The team discusses MAU EBURU ECOSYSTEM

Eburu Forest 2-year camera trap study results

With only 6 bongo events from a total of other antelopes, although 74.5% had never approximately 600,000 images analysed, seen one in the wild. 94.5% of local people results suggest that very few bongo were in favour of increasing the forest individuals persist within the forest. Of population of mountain bongo using captive- this total number of images, 182,781 bred bongo. wildlife images were sorted (the remaining approximately 400,000 images were false The 21-month study was impeded by triggers). There was a total of 33 species of camera trap theft and the threat of physical mammals photographed including 99 hyena violence to local team members. Commonly events and 35 leopard events. The most documented illegal forest activities included commonly photographed animal was the setting of leg traps and neck snares, Trap camera image of two male bushbuck bushbuck with 6,695 events. indicating that security issues remain the biggest challenge going forward with any Rhino Ark is pleased to report on the The bongo’s habitat preference for the dense, reintroduction plans. preliminary results of a two-year intensive high elevation forest zones above 2300m camera trapping study at Eburu Forest was determined through plotting of primary We have, however, been encouraged by our conducted to determine the size of the and secondary signs on a topographic map. interventions in 2018 and 2019 in concert remaining mountain bongo population and The estimated area is approximately 1,132 with our partners including KWS, KFS, BSP, its distribution. hectares. The residual bongo population Eburru Rafiki, and the Rhino Ark/ Calgary Zoo could be rejuvenated by translocation of Mountain Forest Conservation Partnership, A systematic camera-trapping effort was captive-bred bongo, and this idea is broadly that have seen a major reduction in wildlife conducted inside the 43km fence using supported by neighbouring communities. crime at Eburu Forest. We continue to work 50 cameras over a 21-month period to at perpetuating this trend going forward. document the bongo population, its habitat Household and student surveys were preferences and threats to survival. Cameras conducted to document ecological The above findings were presented in were spaced 1km apart, except in locations knowledge; attitudes to bongo translocation; more details at the international Pathways with bongo secondary signs. Here, cameras forest usage, and socio-economic needs Conference in February at Limuru, Kenya, were twinned for increased capture success. within the neighbouring communities. Results and will be shared with local and national Secondary bongo signs – including tracks, from the household survey determined that stakeholders as soon as the coronavirus droppings and scratching posts - were also 68.5% of 200 people interviewed were able restrictions are lifted so that we can gather mapped. to correctly identify a mountain bongo from large groups of people together once more.

Road signage for wildlife corridor erected

The Moi North Lake Road links Morendat roadkills have been the result. along the Naivasha-Nakuru highway to Kongoni. It traverses large farms, and As efforts to establish a wildlife overpass are wildlife conservancies, and links community pursued, some interim mitigation measures to settlements, and high end tourism and reduce the roadkills are being explored. One recreational facilities along the north western such measure is the erection of road warning shores of Lake Naivasha. A section of the signs marking the corridor zone. The warning road, from Morendat to Kasarani settlement signs inform motorists about the wildlife has been recently upgraded to tarmack. This corridor and caution reduced speed. road bisects the Eburu-Lake Naivasha wildlife Warning Sign corridor at Loldia Farm, near Kasarani. The The installation of the warning signs road upgrade, while enabling the efficient was facilitated by Rhino Ark, following a It is envisaged that the placement of the movement of people and goods, has allowed development process under the Eburu-Lake prominent signs will encourage motorists to vehicle to move at high speeds both day and Naivasha Connectivity Committee and with be observant and avoid speeding in this area, night, thus presenting a threat to the welfare authority from the Kenya Rural Roads Authority thereby helping to reduce wildlife injury and

of wildlife along the corridor. Frequent (KeRRA). fatalities. EBURU NEWS MAU 7 8 MAU EBURU NEWS Re-building materials, tools,equipmentandmaintenancegearforthefencingteam,amongothers. The first annual contribution of KES 3,697,000 was disbursed to Rhino Ark on 18 March 2020, and will help to cover operations, maintenance is awaited,theMPESAFoundation hasundertaken toprovide forfencemaintenance,channeledthrough annualfundingsupport RhinoArk. providing oftheseedcapitalthatwillbuildup endowment fund.AscompletionoftheTrust KES30millionaspart establishmentprocess The MPESAFoundation, isakey sponsorofthefenceproject, theTrust andhasmadeacommitmenttosupport onceitisestablishedthrough It willprovide thesustainablelongtermmechanismtofundmaintenanceandmanagementoffence. Ark, Kenya Forest Service,Kenya WildlifeServiceandM-Pesa Foundation andwillhave representation from forest adjacentlocalcommunities. while working with stakeholders towards establishing the Eburu Trust and endowment fund. The Eburu Trust will be jointly established by Rhino Following completion of the fence construction in November 2014, fence maintenance operations on an interim basis, Rhino Ark has supported Eburu fencemaintenancereceivesboost New CFA holdingMauEburuguidebooks officials Community elderbeingassistedtovote Voting box the EburuForest passed). Stay tunedformore updatestocomeinsubsequent issuesofARKive. –and preparing the threat fortheupcoming membershipdrive of COVID-19 (after has We are pleasedtoreport that theECOFA is backontrack now –administratively andlegally the positionsofchairperson,vice chair, secretary, treasurer, amongothers. on tothehigherlevel managementboard elections,heldattheendofNovember 2019, for From thosezonal committees,30members(10 zones x 1man+woman +1youth) went all present. Forest, followed by zonal level elections.7-memberzonal committeeswere nominatedby Act, thehistoryofCFA movement, andthe conservation andeconomicvalues ofEburu meeting attracting 116 people.Each meetingincludedatraining sessiononthe 2016 Forest was 717The total number of participants (371 men; 169 women; 177 youth), with the biggest administrative zones surrounding theforest. representation, awareness raising wascarriedoutin10 zonal meetingsincludingall to facilitatefree andfairelectionsofanew crop ofCFA leaders.To ensure widespread had Since thetermofelectedofficials expired, stepwas thefirst,andmostimportant, fortheCFA,attaining financialsupport andforest-related employment formembers. Societies andtheKenya Forest Service,re-establishing theCFA attheKFSstation, office management board trainings, renewal of all required documentation with the Registrar of ECOFA. There-building workplan includes:membershipcard production, membershipdrive, Therefore, there-building CalgaryZoo, teameduptosupport RhinoArk,andpartner of as theproduction ofcommercial grade EburuForest honey. conservation oftheforest andimplementationofeconomicbio-enterpriseactivities,such Having avibrant, active, andtheregistered CFA isanessentialelementinthesuccessful recent years theECOFA wasplaguedwithalackoffinancialandtechnicalcapacities. through whichthelocalarea citizens canengagelegallywiththeirEburuforest. However, in The Eburu Community Forest Association (ECOFA) was first established in 2008 as the vehicle Associations (CFAs). in the management and conservation of forest resources through Community Forest ForestParticipatory Managementrequires thatforest-adjacent communities beengaged Forest Management. One ofthekey features ofthe2016 Forest Conservation andManagementAct isParticipatory C ommunity fromMPESA Foundation Forest Association (ECOFA) Eburu farmers take to biogas to conserve the forest

Rhino Ark is facilitating the adoption of biogas as an alternative domestic energy solution by local farmers. The aim of the programme is to reduce farmers reliance on forest resources such as fuelwood, which is a threat to forest conservation. With a simple input of water and farm animal waste (dung), combustible methane gas that is the biogas process output is produced as a source of heat for cooking, and as a source of light. The waste product of the process, slurry is Installation of digester Adding dung mix to digester a high quality fertilizer that is suitable for sustainable organic farming.

To support the adoption and expansion of the programme, Rhino Ark organizes training for the farmers. The latest training carried out by officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, on 6 March 2020, with 16 farmers from Ndabibi location participating. The farmers learnt biogas unit installation and lighting.

The programme, established in 2018, has continued to grow, with farmers now self- financing the installation of the units on their farms. As of March 2020, a total of 33 biogas units have been installed in various farms in the Eburru, Kiambogo and Ndabibi Locations. End product in the kitchen

Maintaining The Eburu Fence: Mitigating Erosion Challenge in Steep Terrain

Before mitigation: extreme erosion at fence line Structure of gabions

The 43.3 km long Eburu electrified fence outside of the fence. The gradient, coupled traverses terrain with diverse topography. with the loose, easily washed-away nature of Some sections of the fence are especially Eburu’s volcanic soils has resulted in fence steep, with near-vertical gradients, which post and tightlock wire mesh sections that the intrepid fence maintenance team must should be below ground becoming exposed. nevertheless patrol daily and keep in good order. To address this problem, the fencing team has had to innovate, applying a comprehensive The current prolonged rainy season erosion mitigation solution in the form of a has posed some special challenges for series of rock and wire gabions. The gabions maintenance along sections of the line that will serve multiple purposes: preventing have very steep gradients. Two areas in livestock from eroding the ground next to the particular, at Nyatoru (Kiambogo Location) fence, breaking the momentum of rainwater and Gatimu (Ndabibi Location) have runoff that carries off the topsoil, and

experienced extreme erosion, exacerbated allowing grass to re-grow along the fence line EBURU NEWS MAU Order of gabions along fence by heavy livestock “hoof” traffic on the and stabilizing the soil. 9 Forest Desnaring Operations Saving Wildlife

Our Rhino Ark fences are not a complete leg traps, and charcoal kilns. During the last Armed with our maps, we are able to share barrier to would-be criminals entering our 6-months in 2019, our surveillance units hard evidence of problem areas to garner protected mountain forest ecosystems to removed over 70 snares from Eburu Forest, support from stakeholders for improved conduct illegal activities. But we have a and made several arrests leading to charges. forest security. solution for that! At least 15 charcoal production kilns were discovered and destroyed; evidence of pole At the time of this publication, we have We have been teaming up with our partners and rafter harvesting was recorded, and documented a steep decline in the number of at the Bongo Surveillance Project, Kenya firewood collection points were found and snares and traps in the forest. We are pleased Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and dismantled. to see the monthly de-snaring operations are Eburru Rafiki, to conduct forest foot patrols greatly contributing to wildlife welfare and to identify illegal activities and to stop them. We gps map the locations of all illegal creating a more difficult environment for activities, and have set up local intelligence illegal activities. Most frequently detected are neck snares, teams to aid in detected trouble spots.

Buffalo cable trap dismantled

Dismantling illegal charcoal kiln Muthemba with neck snare

Community conservation outreach update

Ndabibi Central Primary School Wildlife lesson from KWS-Ndabibi Secondary Ecotoutism brief at Ndibithi Primary School

As part of the ongoing community A total of 3,215 community members were farming, water harvesting, woodlot farming engagement process, Rhino Ark implemented directly reached through this series. and smart farming. A total of sixty-seven a series of five outreach meetings in February farmers participated in the study visits. 2020 targeting local schools in the Ndabibi Two outreach study visits were organized for Zone. The outreach forums, implemented farmers from Ndabibi, Eburru, Kiambogo and “I am so grateful to be part of these trainings. with funding support from Eburru Rafiki, Oljorari zones. The farmers visited the Ndabibi It has taught me how to work on my farms provided the pupils, teachers and local Environmental Centre model farm in Ndabibi and boost my income. Let us implement the community members with relevant and location to learn sustainable best farming trainings and help in conserving our Eburu current knowledge on forest conservation, practices, including alternative agriculture forest,”

MAU EBURU NEWS MAU wildlife, law enforcement and agriculture. and value addition, organic farming, fish Mary Kago, Eburu farmer 10 mau eburuLANDSCAPES AND BIODIVERSITY Female Bushbuck Blue Monkey Caterpillar Black andWhiteColobusMonkey Grey HeadedNegrofinch Warthog Leopard 11 MAU EBURU NEWS 12 SOUTH WESTERN MAU NEWS kit istoenabletheschoolsreduce their schools trained on their use. The aim of the schools selectedforthepilotphase,and kiln have beenprovided toeachofthe15 jiko (stove) andonelarge charcoal making a kitcomprisingonelarge energy saving Under thesustainableenergy component, energy initiative in15 oftheseschools. schools, togetherwithapilotsustainable curricula forbothprimaryandsecondary comprehensive conservation education of theprogramme are implementationof conservation intheir daily lives. Key elements proactive inthepractice ofenvironmental to encourage and empower them to be equip pupilswiththerelevant knowledge Forest ecosystem.Theprogramme aimsto schools adjacent to the South Western Mau conservation educationprogramme to46 Rhino Arkcommencedtheroll outofa MAU SCHOOLS CONSER Outreach to SOUTH WESTERNMAU A jiko andkilndemonstration Faith-based group meetingatAGC Church insukutek. V ATION EDUCATION INITIATIVE BRINGSBIGGAINS TO SOUTH ECOSYSTEM churches and SocialScience. the teachinginsubjectssuchasGeography noting thatitspractical nature complements of theconservation educationcurricula, the benefits implementing teachers affirmed Principal DenisRotich. Indiscussions,the received by theschool,ledby Deputy the MauLandscape. Theteamwere warmly of theongoingconservation initiatives within invited tohelpincreating broader awareness Standard andRadioAfricaGroup (TheStar), of the media, with journalists from The Nation, inthevisitwereparticipating representatives of theprogramme implementation.Also Girls Secondaryschooltoassessthestatus The RhinoArkteammadeavisittoKipkoris for cooking. own charcoal whichisthenusedinthejiko fuelwood consumptionby producing their Pupils discusscurriculum have begun toincorporate conservation intheiractivities. Follow upengagements by theoutreach teamshow thatthechurches and present the project andsponsors. partners provided withproject conservation postersthatexplain the project conservation basiswiththeircongregations. Thechurches have been churches on conservation mattersandencourage themtoshare the were directly reached. Themeetingshelpedtosensitize the A totalof105 church persons, including82 clergy affiliated members churches wasorganized. 2019 aseriesof5outreach meetingswithleadersfrom 18 local reach andengageawideaudience.IntheperiodOctober-December sizeable constituencyofthelocalcommunity, and provide ameansto organizations within the ecosystem. Local churches represent a Rhino Arkhasrolled outaprogramme toengagefaith-based Secondary School. Dennis Rotich-Deputy PrincipalKipkoris Girls conservation in Ark Rhino with “Partnering matters has brought a significant impact in in impact significant a brought has matters our school especially with incorporating the the incorporating with especially school our has beenprovided by theSafaricomFoundation. fortheprogrammeecosystem. Fundingsupport conservation oftheSouthWesternsupports Mau Sustainable Landscapes that (ISLA)partnership pillarinthewiderInitiative for is animportant Rhino Ark’s conservation educationprogramme exam practicals. the cleanerandmore jikos efficient fortheir their KCSE examinations were delightedtouse that the final year (Form Four) students sitting great saving intheirbudget.He alsoobserved before thejiko andkilnkitwasintroduced, a using upto50%lessfuelwood thanthey did Rotich estimatedthattheschoolwasnow appreciated by theschooladministration. Mr. woody biomassintocharcoal hasbeengreatly evenand the ability to convert small pieces of ofthesustainableenergyThe efficiency kit of timberthatwould otherwisegotowaste. school, aswell asfrom discarded smallpieces charcoal from prunings of trees growing inthe Using thekiln,schoolisnow abletoproduce Conservation Education Curriculum in our our in Curriculum Education Conservation syllabus that aims at producing environmental environmental producing at aims that syllabus conservation champions.” champions.” conservation ESTERN WESTERN SOUTH WESTERN MAU FOREST REHABILITATION WORK PROGRESSING WELL

Acacia seedball Prunus africana seedling Dombeya torrida growing tall

The nearly 45km long eastern boundary of the expansive South Indigenous tree species planted include Acacia, Allophylus, Croton, Western Mau forest has been heavily degraded through human Dombeya, Hagenia (rosewood), Olea, Podo and Prunus, among activities over the past two decades. Part of this boundary is defined others. The seedlings are mainly sourced from the local communities by a nearly 30km long, arrow straight “cut line” demarcation that that have established tree nurseries. Alongside conventional seedling straddles Kuresoi North and South, from Timbili River in the north planting, tree growing using seedballs is also being piloted at the site to Kipsonoi River in the south. The cut line separates with local to explore the feasibility of this potentially lower cost option within communities on one side and forest land on the other, and lies at the the ecosystem. boundary of Bomet and Nakuru counties. The often unpredictable weather has provided both challenges Rhino Ark in collaboration with Kenya Forest Service is undertaking and opportunities to rehabilitation work. The extended dry spell in rehabilitation and maintenance of a section of forest at Kipkoris, a site 2017/2018 was a challenge that impacted adversely on seedling of particularly heavy forest degradation. Located adjacent the Kenya survival and called for infilling to replace lost seedlings. The extended Forest Service Kipkoris outpost, the indigenous forest rehabilitation rainy season of 2019/2020 has been a boon for forest rehabilitation site comprises four plots of 10 hectares each (sites A, B, C and D), efforts, presenting a longer window for rehabilitation work and planted in phases between 2017 and 2019, with over 59,000 trees allowing planted seedlings to show robust growth. planted. Micro fences have been erected to protect the delicate seedlings from trampling by livestock or larger wildlife that may pass The forest rehabilitation effort is a Safaricom Foundation supported through the area. The replant sites are under intensive maintenance programme under the Initiative for Sustainable Landscapes (ISLA) and protection with a team of 4 community scouts on site. partnership framework which brings together private and public sector stakeholders. Rhino Ark is an ISLA implementing partner.

MAU FORESTS COMPLEX LISTED IN THE QUEEN’S COMMONWEALTH CANOPY

Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forestry, Keriako Tobiko, for future generations. committed Kenya to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy (QCC), nominating restoration and rehabilitation of Mau Forests Complex as The Mau Forests Complex is the largest forest ecosystem and the most its dedication. important Water Tower in Kenya, covering approximately 416,000ha. It comprises of 22 forest blocks, including Mau Eburu and South QCC creates a unique network of forest conservation projects that Western Mau that are two key conservation projects of Rhino Ark. brings collective credibility and integrity to individual Commonwealth initiatives. It uses that network to facilitate knowledge exchange, The inclusion of the Mau Forests Complex in the QCC will provide share best practice and create new, collaborative initiatives for further visibility, commitment and support towards the conservation forest conservation. It also aims to raise awareness within the of this mountain ecosystem and the work undertaken by key SOUTH WESTERN MAU NEWS SOUTH WESTERN MAU

Commonwealth of the value of indigenous forests and to saving them government partners, including Rhino Ark. Eburu News 13B 14 SOUTH WESTERN MAU NEWS C SOUTH and natural caves. destruction of6 illegalcharcoal kilns.Intheprocess, heisalsolearningabout, andmappinginteresting features oftheforest, suchas waterfalls Thomas isproud ofthework they are doing, andpersonallymakingadifference –thisyear, inremoving he hasparticipated over 20snares, and activities. to trek through kilometersoflushforest trails. Through theseforest patrols, theteamdiscover andremove wildlifesnares anddisruptillegal inthisprocess.Rhino Arkisanactive participant Ouroutreach officer, ThomasMutai, regularly joinswithcommunityscoutsandforest rangers requires constantaction. are porous, leaving itvulnerable toillegalactivitiessuch ashuntingandbushmeatpoaching.Snaringofwildlifeisareality ofthisforest and The 60,000-hectare SouthWestern MauForest ecosystemisarichhabitatforwildlife.However, itsborders withadjacentcommunitylands ommunity Snare removal work intheforest WESTERN MAU FOREST PATROLS: SAFEGUARDING Recovered snare Outreach Conservation champions’tree nurseryatKapnoo Rhino Arkoutreach withpatrol officer team have alsoundertaken toestablishtree nurseries. forest adjacentcommunities.Thechampions in theprogramme (6men,3ladies)across the A totalof9conservation championsare currently conservation includingdesnaringwork. in communityoutreach activitiesandforest conservation educationprogramme, participate livelihood the practices. Thechampionssupport in relevant conservation andorcompatible the communities.They are firstto receive training team topropagate conservation values within They work closely with the Rhino Ark outreach each location. points forcommunityconservation activitiesin conservation. These“champions”actasfocal community volunteers whoare passionateabout programme involves the recruitment of a teamof champions programme inSW Mau.The Rhino Arkhasrolled outtheconservation ILDLIFE WILDLIFE SOUTH WESTERN mau LANDSCAPES AND BIODI VERSITY A group ofbutterfliesenjoy nectar A sectionofEmitikForest Amalo River Kapkoi -TirigoiwaterfallinSW-MAU Kapnoo Forest bambooandindigenoustrees Dragon fly 15 B EburuSOUTH News WESTERN MAU NEWS MT KENYA ECOSYSTEM EQUIPING AND TRAINING 60 FIRE FIGHTERS FOR MT. KENYA AND ABERDARES

KWS Assistant Director, Simon Gitau, addresses trainees during firefighting training at Firefighting training session - a mock forest fire Ontulili Forest, Mt. Kenya

During the festive season, a week-long training was held to train 60 men in fighting wild fires on Mt. Kenya and Aberdares. The team also received new equipment and clothing. The training was coordinated by the Mount Kenya Trust and co-financed by Rhino Ark.

Participated in the training are field officers from the Mount Kenya Trust, the Aberdare Joint Surveillance Unit funded by Rhino Ark, a team from Kisima Farm and rangers from KWS and KFS.

Enhancing the overall coordination of fire fighting operations were also discussed during the training.

Many thanks to Tropicair for availing a chopper during the training, Ontulili Secondary School for providing rooms to host the teams and Training firefighters on how to approach a helicopter used to drop/pick firefighters to the mountains Turaco Farm for agreeing to fire suppression exercises on their land.

Fight on Covid 19 taken a notch higher Personal hygiene especially washing hands with soap and sanitizing as well as wearing face masks have been identified as remedies to curb the spread of Corona Virus. Rhino Ark and Kithoka/Themba Community donated the water tank to enable Salim and his neighbor to harvest rain water during this wet season. The water will be used in hand washing and for domestic use.

While receiving the water tank Mzee Salim said that, “I live in Nchoroiboro village, Meru County and this part of Meru is water scarce. I’ve been buying 20-litre gallon of water at Sh. 5. On average Rhino Ark Fence/Community Manager (in Cap) presents the water tank to Mr & Mrs I would spend sh.200 per day. A lot of time was wasted following Salim Ibrahim (the two in the middle) as Assistant Chief Themba Sublocation, long queues as fellow villagers went out to fetch water. This water Ms. Judy Manyara looks on tank will help me collect rain water which was previously draining to As fight on Covid 19 heightens, Rhino Ark and Kithoka/Themba waste. In addition, I will be sure that the water my family will be using Community were out to promote hygiene at Nchoroiboro Village, is clean and safe…………I wish to thank Rhino Ark and Kithoka/Themba Ruiri Location in Meru County. On 27th April, 2020 a five thousand community for coming to my aid. God bless all of you.” litre water tank was donated to Mzee Salim Ibrahim, a survivor of elephant attack that left him maimed and unable to fend for his family. Ms Judy Manyara, the Assistant Chief Themba Sub-location, Meru County mobilized the community to raise the much needed funds Mzee Salim is still passionate about wildlife especially after Rhino Ark while working with Rt. Colonel Nahashon Mutea. NEWS MT KENYA and partners built the Upper Imenti Electric Fence which is part of the 16 Mt. Kenya Electric Fence. ELECTRIC FENCE MORE SUPPORT INCONSTRUCTING AND MAINTAINING THE MT. KENYA Ruiri road thatcrosses theImentiForest. interestparticular istheconstructionofelephantgridsonMeru- towardsdiscuss potentialsupport theMt.Kenya ElectricFence. Of Rhino ArkmetwithElephantCooperation in Kithoka, nearMeru,to ENGAGING ELEPHANT COOPERATION TOW Flooding river Iraru posingachallengeto Fence maintenance First landslidecovering asectionofthe road Damaged fenceline ARDS SUPPORTING THE MT KENYA FENCE interest inourconservation work onMt.Kenya. Many thankstoScottandSuzziefrom ElephantCooperation fortheir The meetingwasorganized by membersoftheKithoka community. our day-to-day activities. at apointwhen the COVID 19 pandemic isalsoimpactingon highlights someofthechallenges thatwe faceasRhinoArk to subside for the actual construction work to commence. It new fencealignmentaswe waitforthefloodingRiver Iraru Ark isworking onsitepreparation, especiallyinmappinga was deployed to ensure that the power Rhino flow is efficient. across allthe sectionsofthefence.ARapidResponse Team This callsforimmediateactiontoensure electriccurrent flow County. Road atthecrossing pointofRiver Iraru, SouthImentiMeru are750,000. The effects massive along Chogoria-Kiunyu The estimatedcosttofixthefencedamagestandsatKES Iraru bridgerendering the road completelyimpassable. uprooted along with the electric fence and dumped at River covered beneath.Tens ofmature indigenoustrees were resulting in300metersofcomprehensive electricfence rainfall hascausedmassive landslidesintheecosystem During thelongrains experienced inApril-May period2020, causing more breakage. means thatwildlifewillchallengethefencemore often, Poorteam tobeeffective. maintenanceofanelectricfence that is done with commitment and supervised by a technical the fullfunctionalityofelectricfence.Itisadailyactivity fence attendantsthatmonitorandfixthedamagestoenable regular RhinoArkhasateamof maintenance,tothateffect will eventually encircle MountKenya. Thefencerequires kilometers of the450kilometers comprehensive fencethat Fence hasbeenreached withthecompletionof200 A milestone in the construction of the Mount Kenya Electric conflicts intheadjacentmountain region. have played asignificant role incurbinghuman-wildlife Irrigation), MountKenya Trust andthelocal communities is agovernment project undertheMinistryofWater and Upper Tana Natural Resources ManagementProject- (this Wildlife ServiceandKenya Forest service),RhinoArk,the involvingprivate Government partnership, agencies(Kenya The MountKenya ElectricFence constructed under apublic- 17 MT KENYA NEWS 18 MT KENYA NEWS W ON MT KENYA The Chairmanobserved thatforest restoration programmes are a capacityofproducing over onemillionseedlingsperseason. The teamalsotoured OntuliliForest Stationtree nurserythathas Mount Kenya Conservation Forum intheexercise. participated Kinyua whowasthechiefguest,MountKenya Trust, OntuliliCFA and Ark, Kenya Forest Serviceledby theirBoard Chairman,Mr. Peter trees specieswere plantedinOntuliliForest Station,Mt.Kenya. Rhino On Saturday, the11th April2020,two thousandseedlingsofindigenous degraded forest areas on Mt. Kenya. An initial and key activity was The young tree seedlingswill be usedlargely torehabilitate tree nursery will beabletoproduce 700,000 tree seedlingsatonce. its expansion tocover anarea of2.7acres. Itisestimated that the The work includestherehabilitation ofthe existing tree nurseryand establishing a megatree nursery in Nanyuki Forest Station, Mt. Kenya. Forest Service and the Nanyuki Community Forest Association, is Rhino Ark,togetherwiththeMount Kenya Conservation Forum, Kenya TREE PLANTING AT ONTULILIFOREST STATION INMT. KENYA ORK CONTINUES AT PACE TOW Executive Director RhinoArk,Mr. ChristianLambrechts plants aPodo tree atOntuliliForest Station Chairman board KFS,Peter KinyuaplantsaPodo tree at ARDS ESTABLISHING A MEGA TREE NURSERY Ontulili Forest Station purchased andare beingsown intheseedbeds. various indigenoustree over seeds,worth KES300,000,have been the tree seedlings(whilekeeping social distance).Inthemeanwhile, the community. Community membersare preparing theground for Rhino Ark provided the material while the labour was provided by water tank. successfully implementedwith water flowing steadilyinto themain the constructionofagravity fedwatersupplywhichhasnow been social distancing,washinghandswithsoapandsanitizing. tree planting exercise while observing the government directive of In themidstofCOVID 19 viruspandemic,theteamundertakes the previously by forest affected fires. replanting of the trees will go a long way in rehabilitating sites Ontulili Forest Station is a forest fire hotspot and therefore the succeeding inMt.Kenya thankstoPrivate/ PublicPartnerships. Mega Tree NurseryatNanyukiForest Station,MtKenya Bitumen road viewed from MtKenya ParkHeadquarters. mT KENYA LANDSCAPES AND BIODIVERSITY

Rapids on the Ragati River

Beautiful mountain stream

Tall trees

Sun setting on Mt. Kenya

Terere and Sendeo peaks from Sirimon route in Mt. Kenya Chameleon ABERDARES ECOSYSTEM FENCE MONITORING SYSTEM IN ABERDARES:

Testing the live wire voltage

Aberdare Fence Monitoring System Rhino Ark Executive Director explaining how Fence Monitoring System works

The 400 Kilometer Aberdare electric fence construction started in made my work easy. I can monitor the fence through my phone while 1989 and was completed on 28th August, 2009 making it the world’s seated in my office. I can tell where exactly the problem is and for longest electric fence. The fence rises seven feet above the ground. that reason the attendants plus the KWS team respond very fast to It is electrified and wired down to three feet below ground to deter issues” Adam Mwangi- Fence/Community Manager Aberdare - Mt burrowing wildlife and the upright posts that are hot-wired to deter Kenya Landscape. baboons and monkeys from scaling them. The fence construction costed approximately KES. 800 million (approximately US$ 10 million) The system which was set in 6 zones for the pilot study is proving to to construct. The current construction rate of such a fence is KES 2.5 be very effective. The Aberdare Electric Fence has been appreciated million per kilometer. by the community around the ecosystem citing that there has been tremendous reduction in human-wildlife conflict since its construction. 31 years down the line, Rhino Ark is still committed to protecting and The farmers have been getting 100% offtake of crops from farms conserving the Aberdares ecosystem. One unique system put in place and the land values have also appreciated by up to 300%. The by the organization is a Fence Monitoring System that uses short rehabilitation of the forest is ongoing with the planting of indigenous messages to pass on the information. Previously, a team of trained trees inside the protected areas to help in achieving the 10% forest fence attendants could patrol the fence daily to identify problems, cover by 2022. repair and maintain the fence so that it continues to reduce human- NEWS wildlife conflict and protect the forest. “The fence has kept off the elephants from getting in our farms. We appreciate Rhino Ark for constructing and maintaining this fence. We Today, the fence monitoring technology has made work easy. It is can do our farming comfortably without wildlife interference. The able to detect issues and send information through SMS to the fence previous years we could get nothing from our farms.” attendants and the fence manager instantly. Every 4km is being Alice Mwari - Community Member. ABERDARES ABERDARES

Eburu News maintained by a fence attendant. “The Fence Monitoring System has 120 Phase 1and2 (fence existing for over 20years) ofthe Aberdare resolvedWhen RhinoArk togetherwithitspartners torehabilitate purpose. would eventually make thegateunlockable thereby compromising its on wooden postsandwithtimethesewould beleaning.This fence thatisporous tobothwildlifeandhumans.Gateswere mounted and very costly to repair. Permeable gatestranslated tohaving a The maintenance team came across broken hinges that were prevalent and weak hinges. in theprevious years. Theseincludeinconsistencyinthegatedesign thatwereshortcomings notedregarding theexisting gates installed The 2012 Aberdare Fence highlightedanumberof StatusReport NEW ABERDARES FENCEREHABILITATION AND FOREST CONSER Part ofrehabilitatedPart fenceseparating Aberdare forest andcommunityfarms GATES BUILT IN ABERDARES Gate underconstruction Rhino ArkandKWSinspectingfencerehabilitation. installing gate designated. returned toindigenousforest –representing 17% ofallforest plantationsso forest. To date, 534 hectares of these forest plantation have actually been area. Ofthese,45.8%have beenearmarked to bereverted toindigenous the electricfence,representing approximately 3%ofthefencedprotected Plantations managedby theForest Stationstotal6,912.74 hectares inside fence, cross-checked andupdatedthedata. Forest StationsintheAberdares thathave forest plantationsinsidethe Electric Fence, from alistprovided by KFS.RhinoArkthenvisitedthe14 of alltheforest situatedinsidetheAberdare plantationcompartments Working withtheKenya Forest Service,RhinoArkhasestablishedthestatus funding forconservation. are notjustdriven by financial returns, butalsowishtoprovide long-term in rural areas inAfrica.PARC, inturn,secures fundingfrom investors who projects thatprotect theenvironment andpromote ClimateChangeresilience access tocleanenergy andsecure long-termfundingforconservation technologically innovative andeconomicallyviablesolutionstoopenup with Powering Africa-Recharging Conservation (PARC). PARC creates Trust, andamongthefinancing optionsforRhinoArkisthepartnership Fence maintenanceisoneoftheareas ofresponsibility oftheAberdare Ngare Ngiro river section,ofwhich4.9kmhasnow beenfullyrehabilitated. has beenrehabilitated. Work onPhaseIIistheeight-kilometre inWandare- ofthefence(38kmlong)– phases ofwhichthefirstphase–theoldestpart ecosystem thatare over 21 years old.Thishasbeendividedintovarious programme ofthefencesurrounding toupgrade part theAberdare Rhino Ark, together with Kenya Wildlife Service, begun a rehabilitation burners andforest encroachment. constant fencemaintenancetodeterpoachers,illegalloggers,charcoal Protecting theprecious butfragile ecosystemoftheAberdares needs the fence. and thevarious institutions that have the constructionof supported Adequate gatesignageare installed,showing thenameofgate strengtheningmeter cubicbasefurther thegate. concretethe metallicgate.Thevertical columns are anchored inone- columnsdonoteasilycollapse/leanunderthe weightthe vertical of interconnected withahorizontal concrete beam. Thisensures that gauge hingeswithaprovision foroiling;builtwithtwo columns vertical 6meters wide; vehicle gate has an in built man gate; robust heavy Features ofthenew gateinclude:standardized gatedesignwhichis gates currently are fittedwithsteellockable gate. Electric Fence, toreplace itwasimportant theoldgates too.Thenew Aberdare partners esosytem V ATION 21 B EburuABERDARES News NEWS ABERDARES LANDSCAPES AND BIODIVERSITY

Warthog Aberdares moorlands

Hyena Buffalo

Olive thrush Queen’s Cave Waterfall FORMALIZING THE PARTNERSHIP FORFENCINGKAKAMEGA FOREST could bedonein Kakamega Forest. of theCouncil Governors, joinedthe visittoKarura Forest toappraise himselfonwhat forests inthecountry. Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya, Governor ofKakamega CountyandChairman Service thatenabledthetransformation ofKarura Forest tooneofthemostvisitedprotected establishedbetween FriendsofKarura Forestsuccessful partnership andKenya Forest Following thetwo-day meeting,avisitwasorganized toKarura Forest tolearnfrom the within thescenicforest. logging. Itisalsoexpected totamehuman-wildlifeconflicts andboosttourismactivities plant species,suchastheblackandwhitecolobusmonkeys, from encroachment andillegal The fencingisexpected tosecure theforest thatishometoadiversity ofrare animaland committed KES100 millionwhileVihigaKES30million. Service (KFS), Kakamega and Vihiga counties. Of the KES 230 million raised so far, Kakamega between Rhino Ark Charitable Trust,is a partnership Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest The project, whichisexpected torunfortwo years, isprojected tocostKES378millionand a 117-kilometreKES 230 million has been raised to start fence around Kakamega Forest. work immediatelyafter. forest. the ItishopedthattheNEMAlicensewillbeissuedsoonwhichenabletostart Kakamega Forest Implementation Agreement andfinalized thedraft forthefencingof The meetingprepared umbrella Agreement adraft Partnership fortheconservation of among others. Service Projects Coordinator andKenya WildlifeServiceForest Programme Coordinator, Directorate ofForest Conservation oftheMinistryEnvironment and Forestry, Kenya Forest fromand VihigaCounties,seniorlegalofficers Kakamega andVihigaCounties,Headofthe Executive CommitteeMembersforEnvironment, Forest andWater Resources from Kakamega for Trade, Tourism andIndustrializationfrom bothKakamega andVihigaCounties,theCounty by RhinoArkExecutive Director, theCountyExecutive CommitteeMembers(CountyMinister) agreements fortheconservation andfencingofKakamega Forest. Themeetingwasattended A two-day meeting was held at the Kenya Forest Service HQ to finalize the partnership ECOSYSTEM KAKAMEGA Participants whoattendedthemeeting Participants 23 KAKAMEGA ECOSYSTEM CHARGERS’’ CORNER The coronavirus pandemic is affecting us all individually and collectively, and as such the Rhino Ark Board of Directors and Rhino Charge Committee made the very difficult, but necessary, decision to postpone the May 2020 event to later in the year.

Even though things continue to remain uncertain we are very clear on the role the Rhino Charge plays in ensuring financial stability for Rhino Ark and so are working tirelessly to understand if, and how, the 2020 Charge might be able to go ahead in these uncertain times. 32ND ANNUAL RHINO CHARGE EVENT The enthusiasm and support from the Rhino Charge community is second to none. POSTPONED TO 19th OCTOBER 2020 It was with great sadness that the original date passed without a Charge but we know that when we are able to get back out there we’re going to make up for lost time.

Rest assured that the planned October Charge will run within the public health regulations and guidelines put in place at that time by the Government, and the Rhino Charge organising team will put in place all necessary measures to ensure the safety of everyone who attends. Due to the uniqueness of the circumstances, and breaking with Charge tradition (just this time!) it is likely that the event location will be announced ahead of time to ensure that Chargers can plan sufficiently and avoid any unnecessary costs. Other than this, the overall competition format will remain as normal.

We want to thank those Chargers that have already remitted funds to Rhino Ark that have been raised towards teams’ original 2020 pledges, this is greatly appreciated and will go a long way in helping Rhino Ark continue to do its valuable work during these challenging times.

To stay up-to-date with details of the 2020 Rhino Charge please visit www.rhinocharge.co.ke

The Rhino Charge Committee

DID YOU The location and venue of the Rhino Charge is kept KNOW? secret until the last minute www.rhinocharge.co.ke to maximise the challenge

181m The Charge takes place over a period Whilst the first Rhino Charge of 10 hours raised only KES 250,000 this 10h amount increased tremendously 65 over the years to reach KES 181 The event is limited to 65 million in the 2018 event The event is teams/cars and cars can either featured in local be modified or unmodified and national media

The event was initially conceived in 1989 to

CORNER Each entrant must The Charge is organised by a Committee of raise funds for the pledge and raise a Volunteers (supported by Rhino Ark employees) construction of minimum sponsorship who believe passionately in the event and the the Aberdare fee between 750,000 cause it supports. This Committee is made up of Electric Fence KES and 1.5 Million KES. people from all walks of life who volunteer their Most entrants however time throughout the year to organise and stage CHARGERS’ CHARGERS’ raise considerably more

1989 the unique event 24 What makes the Charge the Charge? Every Charger (be them competitors, sponsors or supporters) has a story and a reason why they do this. These stories are what makes this event, and community, so unique and something that people take enormous pride in being a part of.

Here are some Competitor anecdotes from years past…

For Team Chomz, the Charge isn’t just about the 4x4 cars but also about bringing people together. One member of Team Chomz met their future wife at the Slater & Whittaker guard post 3 years ago.

“When we drove into the starting guard post 3 years ago at Slater, my eyes latched onto my future wife who was there with the guard post crew. My words to the team as we approached were “We are completing today and coming back to Slater” and of course the responses I shall keep to myself as they are too rude to quote. But in spite of all the difficulties and hurdles of that Charge, we did finish and end up at Slater, and I am a happily married man today.”

For Team Ole Choda, out of the amazing 30 Charges they have done their most memorable Charge was their 3rd Charge. “We had a new navigator that insisted he knew where he was going and told us, even if we are lost never follow another car, we will find our own route! Only to realise we had been going round in circles for the ENTIRE Charge and were so lost they had to send the chopper to look for us! By this time, it was completely dark so we had to use our fuel from the car to light a fire, to our luck we were spotted and saved! The next day, we realised when we went to get the car that we were only 15 mins away from the main camp! What an experience!”

In 2018, Team Moto Moto, Car 34, won the Garmin Award but their most memorable moment comes from the 2017 charge where they managed to “complete approx. 3.5kms in 9.5 hours having tackled the Mother of all ravines! We broke our Rear Diff, Front and Rear Winches. We were stuck on a 45-degree slope, the car took us an additional 6 hrs and 3 other vehicles to recover the next day! 3 crew members suffered heatstroke, 1 almost lost a leg to a falling boulder and the resident black mamba that slithered by us at 4.00 pm elicited ZERO reaction from the whole crew.”

The 2019 Rhino Charge was car Number 10s first charge and sadly they broke down before they even reached the first checkpoint! This hasn’t deterred them and word on the street is that Car 10 will look very different when they next charge… CORNER

For more stories about the Chargers, the Supporters, #WhyWeCharge and the event itself and to be part of our community please follow us on social media:

@Rhino.Charge @Rhino_Charge @RhinoChargeKenya CHARGERS’ 25 26 CHARGERS’ CORNER How the RhinoCharge Organising the Charge worksandwhatyou competition isfierce butoncea [email protected] andwe ENTER ATEAMORJOINAN If youare interested ingetting please dogetintouchwith involved pleasecontactuson volunteering yourtimeand can explainmore abouthow HELP OUTAT THEEVENT COVID-19 PREVENTIONTIPS Charger, alwaysaCharger! helping outattheevent [email protected] If you’re interested in Spaces are limitedand EXISTING TEAM need todoto. C team on an Y ou Support www.rhinocharge.or.ke competitions, allinthename The RhinoCharge offers some For more infoonattending Spectator isafantasticway opportunities andisaunique sponsor canbefoundonthe ATTEND ASASPECTATOR the Charge asaSpectator most uniqueoff-road 4×4 conservation efforts. Details on howtogetinvolvedasa to supporttheeventand SPONSOR ACAR ORTHE way tosupportRhinoArks’ Attending aCharge asa please visitoutwebsite. fantastic brandingandPR RHINO CHARGEEVENT be apartofonethe Rhino Charge website. of conservation. • D • • • • Do you: You canprotect yourself andhelpprevent spreading thevirustoothersif remain operational onemails andphonenumbers. ONLY from notice.Meanwhile,RhinoArk 9.00amto3.00pmuntilfurther willbeopentothepublicon advised thatouroffices Tuesdays andFridays Following the Government’s directive in regards to the Covid-19, kindly be on’t Touch your eyes, nose,ormouthifyour handsare notclean Stay homeandself-isolate from othersinthehouseholdifyou feelunwell. Avoid closecontact (1meteror3feet)withpeoplewhoare unwell. when you coughorsneeze. Cover your noseandmouthwithadisposabletissue orflexed elbow alcohol-based handrub. Wash your handsregularly for20seconds,withsoapandwateror the Rhino please visitourwebsiteand #WhyWeCharge pleasefollow subscribe toourmailinglist competitors, eventnewsand us onalloursocialchannels. JOIN OURMAILINGLIST For liveupdates,including the RhinoCharge news, FOLLOW USONSOCIAL www.rhinocharge.or.ke To keepup-to-dateon @RhinoChargeKenya information onthe information @Rhino_Charge @Rhino.Charge Charge Rhino ArkManagement. MEDIA ?

PATRONS: THANK YOU! Rhino Ark wishes to thank the following people and companies who have LORD ABERDARE DL. provided services or specific donations in cash or kind to Rhino Ark.

DR. DAVID WESTERN • Challenge Aid - Support to the Schools • Wildlife Conservation Society - of Hope (Aberdares) Construction of two elephant grids DR. SALLY KOSGEI on Mt. Kenya • KWS - Rhino Ark Offices JONATHAN SCOTT, CHARLES NJONJO • Eburru Rafiki - Community • KWS - Provision of fence material awareness raising and desnaring US Trustees: operations (Eburu) • IDH-ISLA & Finlays - Support to the SHEENA BLISS, George Griffin, surveillance flights and conservation of • AutoXpress - Provision of tyres for the bongos (South Western Mau) Rhino Ark Andrew Fritz • Flamingo Horticulture Kenya Ltd - • Safaricom Foundation - Support Supply of plastic posts for the conservation of South UK Trustees: Western Mau • Calgary Zoological Society - Support to Guy Tritton, Sir Kit Kaberry, the conservation of Eburu Forest • MPESA Foundation - Support for the maintenance of Eburu Electric John Bowden, Nicholas Kuhle, • Rare Species Conservatory Foundation Fence - Support to the conservation of the John Edwards, Patrick Orr bongos • Mount Kenya Trust - Firefighting capacity building (Mt. Kenya & Kenya DIRECTORS: Aberdares)

ISAAC AWUONDO, ROSE KIMOTHO,

DR. PEREZ OLINDO, ALAN McKittrick, Order your copy of: BRIAN HAWORTH, MICHAEL TURNER, • Environmental, social and economic assessment of the fencing of the Aberdare Conservation Area. Available for KES 3,000 only. ISABELLA OCHOLA-WILSON • Rhino Ark Profile. PETER KINYUA, Adil Khawaja • Rhino Charge book KES 5000 only. • 2020 Rhino Charge Calendar for KES 1,000 only. • Mau Eburu Visitors’ Guidebook for KES 1,500 only. # Act now!... help us to continue our work Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust Your donations of USD 200 or KES 20,000 KWS Headquarters, Langata Road P.O. Box 181 Uhuru Gardens, 00517 Nairobi, Kenya will maintain of fence Tel: +254 (0)20 2136010, +254 (0)20 2136011 250 meters Mobiles: +254 (0)733-632460, +254 (0)724 604233 Email: [email protected] Website: www.rhinoark.org / www.rhinocharge.co.ke

Rhino Ark (UK) Charity No. 1047083 Mr. Guy Tritton, Chairman FRIENDS OF RHINO ARK c/o Hogarth Chambers, 5 New Square, London WC2A 3RJ Tel: +44 (207) 421 2833, Fax: +44 (207) 404 0505 ACT NOW AND HELP US TO CONTINUE OUR VITAL WORK Email: [email protected], guy.tritton@ virgin.net Website: www.rhinoark.org I/We: ...... Website Donations: justgiving.com/charity/rhinoark Rhino Ark (US) of...... A registered US Charity with IRC 501 (c) 3 Status Ms. Sheena Bliss P.O. Box 46250 Madison, WI 53744-6250 Tel: +1 608 4423 536, Fax: +1 608 4425 264 ...... Email: [email protected] www.wildlifedefenseusa.org Please tick your selection and fill in where applicable: Website Donations: Firstgiving.com/Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust Inc. We wish to receive ARKive, the bi-annual newsletter, and enclose a cheque/Postal Order for Banking Details: US Bank, Gamon Place, Madison WI 53719 KES 1,000 or US$ 10. Please make cheques payable to: THE RHINO ARK KENYA CHARITABLE TRUST We wish to make a donation in the form of cheque/Postal order for 2020 (KES/US$). KWS Headquarters, P.O. Box 181 – 00517, Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi, Kenya Landlines: +254 (0) 20 213 6010 / 213 6011, Mobiles: +254 (0) 733 632 460, +254 (0) 724 604 233 We wish to complete a Standing Order / Deed of Covenant - please send an application form. Email: [email protected] websites: www.rhinoark.org / www.rhinocharge.co.ke 27 DONATE!

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

HELP TO SAVE OUR MOUNTAIN We welcome your kind donations to support our work. Your FORESTS AND THEIR ENDANGERED contributions help us achieve the following: WILDLIFE 1. Fencing programme

Our comprehensive game-proof electrified fences help secure prime indigenous forests and resolve human/wildlife conflict, keeping forest-adjacent communities engaged in conservation. One kilometre of electrified fence costs KES 2.5 million ($ 25,000). Once built, fences must be maintained continuously. We have 174 fence attendants maintaining our fences daily, supported by eight 4×4 vehicles. Fence maintenance costs KES 80,000 ($800) per kilometre per year.

2. Endangered species and forest conservation

Support our community-based patrol programme:

WHY IT MATTERS The Aberdare Joint Surveillance Unit (AJSU) is an elite, 7-man team of community scouts that patrols the Aberdare ecosystem. The Aberdares, Mt. Kenya and the Mau mountain forests are key ‘water AJSU targets illegal activities such as logging, charcoal kilns, towers’ of Kenya. They are the source of major rivers that provide snaring and wildlife trapping. They also monitor wildlife the much-needed water to Nairobi which is the main contributor to abundance and distribution, gather intelligence information, the country’s GDP. These rivers support the livelihoods of millions of and participate in forest fire fighting. KES 73,500 ($735) can households in the rural areas and are the lifeline of key conservation cover a 2-week field mission. and tourism areas downstream. Together these three mountain ecosystems provide yearly ecological services to Kenya worth KES In Eburu, a 5-man Foot Patrol Team responds to local 412 billion ($4.12 billion). intelligence reports to enact dark sting operations to catch would-be wildlife or forestry criminals. Their main targets are These important forests include World Heritage Sites, Important Bird wildlife snares, illegal logging and charcoal kilns. KES 24,000 Areas and National Parks. The critically endangered Black rhino and ($240) can cover a 2-day field operation. Mountain bongo antelope, the African elephant and the vulnerable leopard are among the iconic wildlife species that inhabit them. Support forest rehabilitation:

The forest-adjacent communities are critical to conservation of these Large areas of prime mountain forest habitats degraded by forests. They are the front-line guardians. Conversely, they are the illegal human activities and forest fires need to be rehabilitated. most directly dependent on the forests and also the most impacted Donate to help restore our mountain forests. KES 100 ($1) will by human-wildlife conflict. enable planting and caring for a tree seedling.

3. Community conservation and livelihoods

Our community programmes are geared to reducing forest adjacent communities’ reliance on forest resources, improving their livelihoods, and raising their environmental awareness. These interventions result in their participation in forest conservation, adoption of on-farm best practices and improvement in incomes.

HOW TO DONATE 1. Mobile money WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED? 2. Bank Transfer 3. PayPal

• 1.6 BILLION KENYA SHILLINGS ($16 MILLION) invested in If you wish to make a donation conservation kindly contact us on: • 650 KILOMETERS of game-proof electrified fences built Email: [email protected] • Over 500,000 hectares of MOUNTAIN FOREST SECURED Telephone: +254 722 230 929 • 80,000 KENYAN FAMILIES protected from human/wildlife conflict, and their livelihoods secured Or Visit our website donations page • 178 SCHOOLS actively learning about conservation https://rhinoark.org/donate/ • 90 HECTARES OF FOREST rehabilitated