THE INTRIGUING SAGA OF THE MAU COMPLEX
Kanini Evans Kariuki
June 04, 2009
THE explosive Mau complex that has continued to attract national and global attention, sprang back into the limelight recently when conservationists and the cream of state official磗 converged at the edge of the endangered water tower in Narok for a colorful water event.
Organizers of the event, held at Naisoya Primary School, a stone磗 throw from the water catchments forest, said the idea to stage the fanfare at the site was intended to raise the frequent drive to conserve one of the largest water towers in East and Central Africa, given problems the forest faces.
The entourage came to Narok for the event at a time when all major rivers originating from the endangered Mau forest is reportedly at their lowest ebbs, placing the lives of several millions of people and livestock at stake.
Mau Forest complex is one of the five water towers in Kenya providing the upper catchments of many major rivers including Nzoia, Yala, Nyando, Sondu, Mara, Kerio, Molo, Ewaso Ngiro, Njoro, Nderit, Makalia and Naishi. These rivers in turn feed major lakes, including Natron, Victoria , Turkana, Baringo and Nakuru.
Ewaso Ngiro River flows into Lake Natron which is the main breeding area for millions of flamingoes that make the Rift Valley a highly-valued tourism destination.
The Mara River crosses the Maasai Mara National Reserve and Serengeti National Park , both world famous for big game.
The Ewaso Ngiro and Mara rivers provide much needed water to pastoralist communities, agriculture and urban areas in Narok, and Kajiado district磗 Mau complex is the largest forest block in Africa. Forests that constitute the complex are the largest forest block in Africa . Forests that constitute the complex include Trans Mara, Ol Posimoru , Maasai Mau, Eastern Mau , Mau Narok and South West Mau. Others are Western Mau, Mt. Londiani , Eburu, Molo and South Molo . The northern part comprises Tinderet, Northern Tinderet, Timboroa, Nakboi, Kiplobe Hill Merkei, Maji Mazuir , Chemorogok and Lembus Forest .
The colorful water event served as an opportunity for leaders and stakeholders to tour the area of destruction that has taken place in the forest through illegal encroachment by settlers, timber merchants and charcoal burners, said Francis Ole Nkako,while addressing reporters.
He added: 创deforestation, land degradation, loss of biodiversity and decreased water catchments capacity leads to soil degradation and decreasing water flows in rivers which result in declining harvests, employment and income, and reduced food security and nutrition, hence bringing more people below the poverty line.创
Ole Nkako, who is the managing director of Ewaso Ngiro South Development authority (ENSDA), one of the key players involved in the protection and rehabilitation of the forest noted: 创time is ripe to transform conservation ideals into action if this important social and economic forest and international resource is to be rescued from further destruction, said Ole Nakao, adding:
"Conflicts emerging among the communities in the region are all about contest between them to have control of the resource. There is nothing tribal about it but pure greed to have a share of the resource that benefits other regions of the country and neighboring states.创
He said destruction of the forest has impacted negatively on water availability and climate change in Narok and neighboring districts. 创Rain patterns have changed. It does not rain on time. Residents have to dig deeper boreholes at the moment to reach water table磗 and farmers cannot predict planting seasons resulting into a drop in farm harvests,创 said the managing director.
Says Engineer Peter Bwogero: 创human induced climate change adds another dimension of complexity by potentially increasing the frequency and serenity of droughts, floods, destruction storms and other climate related disasters.创
Bwogero asserts that both change in climate variability inflicts uncertainties, making decision to water management more complicated. 创This increases overall stress on the environment," he says
A report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through which it has committed itself to implement a community conservation project says the forest is the main water source for 12 major rivers.
The community-based integrated forest resource conservation and management project on Maasai Mau Forest (COMIFORM) will have cost US$ 1,564,140 by the end of this year, with key players being ENSDA, the green belt movement, Kenya forest working group, UNEP and Narok country council.
While UNEP has been responsible for project co-ordination, the green belt movement has undertaken the role of reforestation and carbon offset and Kenya forest working group have overseen the management and development plan in collaboration with Narok county council.
While UNPE has been responsible for project co-ordation, the green belt movement has undertaken the role of reforestation and carbon offset and Kenya forest working group have overseen the management and development plan in collaboration with Narok County Council.
While UNEP has been responsible for project co-ordination, the green belt movement has undertaken the role of reforestation and carbon offset and Kenya磗 forest working group have overseen the management and development plan in collaboration with Narok County Council.
ENSDA continues to organize the communities for production and marketing alternative livelihood products and resources. Based on the recent satellite image interpretations of the forests of Mt. Kenya , Mt. Elgon, Cherengani, the Abadare forests and the mau forest complex, it is estimated that he most imminent threat of deforestation current lies in the Mau forest complex.
ENSDA has been in the forefront in the fight against forest destruction and has continued to participate to raise alarm over the destruction of the Maasai Mau Forest , and is playing a leading role in the conservation.
To rescue the forest and water sources, ENSDA under the COMIFORM project, is diverting the thirst for the forest resource by initiating alternative income generating activities, says Peter Kinyanjui, the organization environmental officer, adding that 创the objective of the project is to conserve the forest to make people shift from unsustainable development, based on short-term financial benefits derived from forest clearing, to sustainable development supported by gazetted forest conservation, payment for ecosystem services and alternative livelihoods on private and public land.创
Innovative ways of conserving the water catchments, under the alternative income generating activities include the setting up of networks into briquette manufacturing organizations. 创we also assist the organizations to develop business plans,创 says Kinyanjui adding:
We organize networks into tree producer organizations and assist them in developing business plan. Beepers are also organized into beekeepers production and marketing organizations and are assisted in developing business plans.创
When the community is empowered economically through the alternative income generating activities, members do not see the need to encroach the forest for commercial reasons and destroy the water tower,创 says Kinyanjui, adding:
Currently, school pupils are being sensitized on the need to conserve the environment through green schools programme under the COMIFORM project undertaken by ENSDA.
Tree planting campaigns are part of the strategy that aim at instilling conservation values in them at a tender age and eventually save as many trees as possible outside the forest.创
Equally, he adds, primary schools have benefited from water tanks donations for water harvesting for both personal use ad watering tree nurseries.
The writer can be reached on email address: e_kanini2002@yahoo.com
Organizers of the event, held at Naisoya Primary School, a stone磗 throw from the water catchments forest, said the idea to stage the fanfare at the site was intended to raise the frequent drive to conserve one of the largest water towers in East and Central Africa, given problems the forest faces.
The entourage came to Narok for the event at a time when all major rivers originating from the endangered Mau forest is reportedly at their lowest ebbs, placing the lives of several millions of people and livestock at stake.
Mau Forest complex is one of the five water towers in Kenya providing the upper catchments of many major rivers including Nzoia, Yala, Nyando, Sondu, Mara, Kerio, Molo, Ewaso Ngiro, Njoro, Nderit, Makalia and Naishi. These rivers in turn feed major lakes, including Natron, Victoria , Turkana, Baringo and Nakuru.
Ewaso Ngiro River flows into Lake Natron which is the main breeding area for millions of flamingoes that make the Rift Valley a highly-valued tourism destination.
The Mara River crosses the Maasai Mara National Reserve and Serengeti National Park , both world famous for big game.
The Ewaso Ngiro and Mara rivers provide much needed water to pastoralist communities, agriculture and urban areas in Narok, and Kajiado district磗 Mau complex is the largest forest block in Africa. Forests that constitute the complex are the largest forest block in Africa . Forests that constitute the complex include Trans Mara, Ol Posimoru , Maasai Mau, Eastern Mau , Mau Narok and South West Mau. Others are Western Mau, Mt. Londiani , Eburu, Molo and South Molo . The northern part comprises Tinderet, Northern Tinderet, Timboroa, Nakboi, Kiplobe Hill Merkei, Maji Mazuir , Chemorogok and Lembus Forest .
The colorful water event served as an opportunity for leaders and stakeholders to tour the area of destruction that has taken place in the forest through illegal encroachment by settlers, timber merchants and charcoal burners, said Francis Ole Nkako,while addressing reporters.
He added: 创deforestation, land degradation, loss of biodiversity and decreased water catchments capacity leads to soil degradation and decreasing water flows in rivers which result in declining harvests, employment and income, and reduced food security and nutrition, hence bringing more people below the poverty line.创
Ole Nkako, who is the managing director of Ewaso Ngiro South Development authority (ENSDA), one of the key players involved in the protection and rehabilitation of the forest noted: 创time is ripe to transform conservation ideals into action if this important social and economic forest and international resource is to be rescued from further destruction, said Ole Nakao, adding:
"Conflicts emerging among the communities in the region are all about contest between them to have control of the resource. There is nothing tribal about it but pure greed to have a share of the resource that benefits other regions of the country and neighboring states.创
He said destruction of the forest has impacted negatively on water availability and climate change in Narok and neighboring districts. 创Rain patterns have changed. It does not rain on time. Residents have to dig deeper boreholes at the moment to reach water table磗 and farmers cannot predict planting seasons resulting into a drop in farm harvests,创 said the managing director.
Says Engineer Peter Bwogero: 创human induced climate change adds another dimension of complexity by potentially increasing the frequency and serenity of droughts, floods, destruction storms and other climate related disasters.创
Bwogero asserts that both change in climate variability inflicts uncertainties, making decision to water management more complicated. 创This increases overall stress on the environment," he says
A report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through which it has committed itself to implement a community conservation project says the forest is the main water source for 12 major rivers.
The community-based integrated forest resource conservation and management project on Maasai Mau Forest (COMIFORM) will have cost US$ 1,564,140 by the end of this year, with key players being ENSDA, the green belt movement, Kenya forest working group, UNEP and Narok country council.
While UNEP has been responsible for project co-ordination, the green belt movement has undertaken the role of reforestation and carbon offset and Kenya forest working group have overseen the management and development plan in collaboration with Narok county council.
While UNPE has been responsible for project co-ordation, the green belt movement has undertaken the role of reforestation and carbon offset and Kenya forest working group have overseen the management and development plan in collaboration with Narok County Council.
While UNEP has been responsible for project co-ordination, the green belt movement has undertaken the role of reforestation and carbon offset and Kenya磗 forest working group have overseen the management and development plan in collaboration with Narok County Council.
ENSDA continues to organize the communities for production and marketing alternative livelihood products and resources. Based on the recent satellite image interpretations of the forests of Mt. Kenya , Mt. Elgon, Cherengani, the Abadare forests and the mau forest complex, it is estimated that he most imminent threat of deforestation current lies in the Mau forest complex.
ENSDA has been in the forefront in the fight against forest destruction and has continued to participate to raise alarm over the destruction of the Maasai Mau Forest , and is playing a leading role in the conservation.
To rescue the forest and water sources, ENSDA under the COMIFORM project, is diverting the thirst for the forest resource by initiating alternative income generating activities, says Peter Kinyanjui, the organization environmental officer, adding that 创the objective of the project is to conserve the forest to make people shift from unsustainable development, based on short-term financial benefits derived from forest clearing, to sustainable development supported by gazetted forest conservation, payment for ecosystem services and alternative livelihoods on private and public land.创
Innovative ways of conserving the water catchments, under the alternative income generating activities include the setting up of networks into briquette manufacturing organizations. 创we also assist the organizations to develop business plans,创 says Kinyanjui adding:
We organize networks into tree producer organizations and assist them in developing business plan. Beepers are also organized into beekeepers production and marketing organizations and are assisted in developing business plans.创
When the community is empowered economically through the alternative income generating activities, members do not see the need to encroach the forest for commercial reasons and destroy the water tower,创 says Kinyanjui, adding:
Currently, school pupils are being sensitized on the need to conserve the environment through green schools programme under the COMIFORM project undertaken by ENSDA.
Tree planting campaigns are part of the strategy that aim at instilling conservation values in them at a tender age and eventually save as many trees as possible outside the forest.创
Equally, he adds, primary schools have benefited from water tanks donations for water harvesting for both personal use ad watering tree nurseries.
The writer can be reached on email address: e_kanini2002@yahoo.com
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