Jasper Mbae Kirika & Flora Njeri Namu

To Enhance Integrated Community Conservation of Biodiversity in Agro-Ecosystems Adjacent to the Eastern Side of Mount Kenya Forest, Kenya

Simplified habitat where trees have been cut to pave way for crops.

A farmer hanging his new hive.

Sampling indicator species - Bees, Butterflies and Birds.

Mudslides on edges of roads where trees were cut.

Town/RegionCountryCategoriesDate
Timau - MuchieneKenyaAfrica, Community, Forests, People14 Jan 2010

The agro-ecosystems east of Mt. Kenya forest have lost their natural vegetation due to cash and food crops growing up to the river banks. These together with climate change have resulted in drying up of some streams, soil erosion and landslides. Data collected during the First RSG project showed that several bird species previously found in the region were absent. In addition, abundance of birds and pollinators was low with stingless bees absent. Modern honey beekeeping is limited due to lack of information/skills. To promote conservation of these species, restore ecosystem processes and functions as well as improve community livelihoods, the following activities will be carried out:

Species documentation
Further surveys of indicatorspecies in different habitats will be carried out in wet and dry seasons. Food sources and breeding sites for different species will be recorded to give insights into which plants need to be replanted and the sites which require protection. Some members of the community will be trained on sampling and identification of indicator species. In addition a thorough search for stingless bees with a view to domesticating them for honey production will be carried out.

Environmental education
Community members (groups)who will be responsible for training the rest of the community will be trained on all aspects of this project. The project team and the trained groups will work together to create awareness on climate change.

Community bee keeping
Modern hives will be issued at a subsidized price to community members using log hives. Subsidizing rather than giving will ensure members are more responsible.

Tree nurseries
More tree nurseries will be established in cooperation with community members. Priority will be given to multipurpose trees and plants that were found to be important during species documentation.

Sampling of drought resistant crops
This will be done through interviewing community members especially the older generation.

We plan to continue monitoring of indicator species around Mount Kenya forest to conserve biodiversity both in the forest and adjacent agricultural landscapes. The monitoring will guide environmentalists as well as agriculturalists in making decisions and policies regarding biodiversity in the agro-ecosystems. We also intend to build the community awareness to environmental matters and capacity to cope with climate change by starting an environmental and biodiversity awareness centre. In addition we plan to empower the local communities economically through diversification and marketing of income generating activities.

Read about the previous work on this project http://www.ruffordsmallgrants.org/rsg/projects/jasper_mbae_kirika or for further information contact jmkirika@yahoo.com or fnnamu@yahoo.com

Project Update: April 2010

The project continued in January 2010 by establishing more tree nurseries with emphasis on indigenous and multi-purpose trees. Many farmers prefer trees like Cordia, Markhamia, Croton and Prunus as they do not destroy soil fertility. Multi-purpose trees like luquats, Psidium guavaja, blackcurrants and avocado trees are also preferred as they provide fruits, fuel wood and building poles.

Besides Weru Self Help Group (with 5000 trees in their nursery) that we worked with in the first Rufford-funded project, we have two new groups: Mwitethie Kiroone Women Group (with 4000 seedlings in nursery) and Gichera Enviromental Program-GEP (With 3000 seedlings in their nursery). We have managed to plant trees with GEP in public areas (church compounds, local primary school compounds and chiefs camps). During the tree planting campaigns we explain to the local communities the essence of planting trees and the effects of clearing trees from their farms on soil fertility, erosion and climate change.

Simultaneously we are collecting data on local knowledge and production of indigenous crops and beekeeping practices among the local communities. We have trained some community members who are helping us with training. The local communities have also received the hybrid hives with enthusiasm and we plan to issue more hives to the members.


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