Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2019). 6(3): 54-110 International Journal of Advanced Research in Biological Sciences ISSN: 2348-8069 www.ijarbs.com DOI: 10.22192/ijarbs Coden: IJARQG(USA) Volume 6, Issue 3 - 2019 Research Article DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22192/ijarbs.2019.06.03.006 Annonated checklist of plant species of Loita Forest (Entim e Naimina Enkiyio Forest or the forest of the lost child), Narok County, Kenya Musingo Tito E. Mbuvi¹*, James B. Kungu2, Francis N. Gachathi3, Chemuku Wekesa¹ Nereoh Leley 4 and Joseph M. Muthini¹ 1Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Coast Eco- Region Research Programme Gede, P. O Box 1078 - 80200. Malindi, Kenya 2Kenyatta University, Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya 3Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Central Highland Eco- Region Research Programme Muguga, P O Box 20412 - 00200. Nairobi Kenya 4Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Rift Valley Eco- Region Research Programme Londiani, P. O Box 382 - 20203. Londiani, Kenya *Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Abstract An ethnobotanical survey was undertaken in Loita forest from 2012 to 2015 to document species richness and compile the first comphrensive plant species checklist of Loita forest. The forest is located in Narok County, Loita Sub County, an area occupied by the Loita Maasai community. Purposive sampling using established plots and transects walks was carried out for complete documentation of all plant species existing in the forest. Focused group discussions and key informant interviews were undertaken to confirm the local names of the species. The plants were identified and confirmed at the East Africa Herbarium; National Museusm of Kenya. The checklist outlines the plant species in botanical and Maasai names and their corresponding families. The plant species have been arranged alphabetically using their scientific names. The checklist developed shall be crucial for future ecological studies and management of Loita forest. The checklist can be updated through future botanical surveys. Keywords: Plant checklist; ethnobotanical survey; species richness and conservation 54 Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2019). 6(3): 54-110 Introduction Good understaning of floristic composition and Location and governance of study site structure is a foundation for a well conserved forest. While foresters need to know a narrow range of plants, Loita forest also known Naimina Enkiyio Forest communities have considerable knowledge on (meaning “the forest of the lost child”) is located in identification, growth habits, use and value of plants Narok County, Loita Sub County. The geographical (Gachathi et al 1994). These sets of knowledge need to position of Loita is within 01°30′00″ S, along the be fused so as to assist create awareness on forest Kenyan Tanzanian Border and 035°30′00″ E - 36° value with a view to trigger interest to conserve and East (Figure 1).The elevation of the forest ranges protect the forests. Loita Community Forest (LCF) between 2,000 – 2,600 m above sea level.The highland lacks information on species richness. Documentation side receives higher rainfall amounts with a mean of the species richness and compilation of a checklist annual rainfall of 1,200 mm with the lowland side provides key source of information on the plant getting 600 mm (Obare 2003) with peaks in the species composition in the forest. months of April and December. The mean annual temperature of the area is 17ºC; temperatures are Given that the forest has been least studied, the lowest in June to August and highest in February, development of a plant checklist was important March and September. The forest forest lies between because the forest is very isolated, linked by very poor the Nguruman-Magadi escarpment and the Maasai road network and is under exclusive community Mara National Game Reserve estimated to cover an management with community living inside the forest area of 33,000 ha (Zaal & Siloma, 2006; Karanja, and with no defined boundary. The forest is facing Tessema, & Barrow, 2002; Musyoka, 1999) and is emerging social and ecological changes including: among the few un-gazetted Community (Trust land) increased encroachment and settlement in the forest; indigenous forests in Kenya managed expected to be permanent livestock herding in the forest supported by managed by the local people. construction of water pans and permanent settlement; expanding crop farming area in the forest; fencing The adjacent community to the forest is the Loita individual enclosures a deviation from communal use Maasai (Loitans) who are mainly pastoralists but are and increased trade in timber through use of power fast changing to sedentary lifestyle and taking up crop saws. The area has been declared an adjudication area, farming targeting maize and beans (Mbuvi et al. posing the greatest threat to the forest. The challenges 2015). In 1999, human impacts were limited in Loita are increasingly contributing to deforestation and forest and confined to settled zones (Kiyiapi 1999), degradation. but by 2016, the entire forest showed signs of degradation through athropogenic activities (Mbuvi et The plant checklist provides a baseline that is crucial al. 2013; Garcia 2015; Mbuvi et al. 2015). Forest reference material for future ecological studies and a encroachment, tourist camp sites, extensive tree guide to rehabilitation of degradaded sites within the harvesting for timber, continous grazing and forest. It will arouse interest to managers, researchers motorable roads crisscrossing in the forest exercebates and partners of the need to conserve the forest. degradation (Mbuvi et al. 2013, 2015). Further, the species checklist will enhance management and conservation of the forest especially for the threatened plants species of socio-economic and ecological importance. 55 Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2019). 6(3): 54-110 Figure 1: A map showing the location of Loita Forest in Kenya, the study site 56 Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2019). 6(3): 54-110 The Loita Maasai have communally used the Naimina Floral composition of Loita forest Enkiyio forest since time immemorial for grazing, firewood, building poles and water, medicinal plants The forest can be floristically classified as “dry upland and ceremonial sites (Maundu et al. 2001 quoted in forest” of the Juniperus-Nuxia-Podocarpus type Obare 2003). Loita community forest was under (Beentje 1990). The dominant tree species include: community “ownership” and the government through Juniperus procera, Nuxia congesta, Podocarpus Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has no role whatsoever as falcatus, Podocarpus latifolius, Olea europaea ssp. the community exercises the full expanded bundle of cuspidata, Apodytes dimidiata, Cassipourea rights (RRI 2012). Under the IUCN category of malosana, Acokanthera schimperi, Ekebergia protected area, LCF would be a protected area capensis, Olinia rochetiana, Pistacia aethiopica, category VI as it was a protected area with sustainable Schrebera alata, Vepris nobilis, Vepris simplicifolia, use of natural resources (Borrini-Feyerabend 2013). Croton megalocarpus and Calodendrum capense. The forest was managed under governance type D Common shrubs include: Clausena anisata, Rhus where the management authority and responsibility natalensis, Myrsine africana, Psydrax schimperiana, rest with indigenous peoples and or local community Rhamnus prinoides, Zanthoxylum usambarense, Scutia through various forms of customary or legal, formal or myrtina and Maytenus heterophylla. Within the informal, institutions and rules (Borrini-Feyerabend extensive thick forest, are bushes, glades and wetland 2013).The forest management was by the Oloibon areas, and at higher elevation are clumps of bamboo institution (council of elders), being a representative of (Yushania alpina) (Loita Forest Integrated a whole population ostensibly makes decision Conservation and Management Project 1999; Maundu (community judiciary) creating a process more likely et al 2001). to achieve equitable and effective implementation (Riamit 2010). The system provides for broad-based Plant checklist play a very important role in citizen inclusion in decision making which increases biodiversity conservation, resource management and efficiency and equity as well as natural resource research as they provide: a common platform, management outcome as opined by Ribot (2010 facilitating dissemination and exchange of information quoted in German et al. eds. 2010). about trees and the environment; allows all interested groups to refer to the same plant by the same name in Cultural and spiritual value of Loita forest all places minimizing confusion and misinterpretation; facilitates communication between visitors and the Loita Naimina Enkiyio Forest has great cultural and local people on forestry activities and create an avenue spiritual value to the Loita Maasai and has been for non botanists to scientifically identify local trees. associated with various traditional ceremonies and Further, checklist builds the efforts, which the local sacrifices. The Loita Maasai are cattle owners and communities have put in conservation and protection much of their culture is cattle inspired. The natural of their forests and preserves traditional indigenous vegetation is therefore important as the foundation of knowledge and wisdom that has been transmitted by their natural resource endowment. The Loita Naimina word of mouth from generation to generation so that it Enkiyio forest has a long