Aberdare Forest is an exceptional and important point. This long-term vision guides the purpose, objective and approach to the conservation and use of the forest at present, and into the future. The idea reflects the need to adapt the move toward forest resource management which meets the continually changing needs of society, and which accounts for the diversity of interests and values which society attributes to the forest, both for today and for future generations. Whatever decisions and actions are taken today have to lead towards the long-term vision-this is the challenge for sustainable forest management and conservation.
The vision is essential because it spells out the direction in which to follow and which way.
Give environmental education and eco-tourism opening linking wider society with management of the forest.
The unique biodiversity of the forest is specifically conserved and enhanced through forest management participation and actions.
Where local communites have the opportunities to participate in significant ways in the management of the forest, and as main beneficiaries of its products and services.
Where adequate resources are made obtainable to support an effective and motivated forest management workforce, permitting them to meet the challenge of this vision.
The over-all objectives of the SAWA in order of priority are.
1. To conserve and enhance the unique biodiversity of the forest
2. To improve the livelihoods of the forest-adjacent community as well as developing better conditions and potential for utilization of the forest products.
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The Southern part of Aberdare is not explored and there is no tourism facility despite the area abounding with many interesting sights and sceneries. With the effort of a few community members from the area, they have explored and have established tremendous sights for tourism attractions. The organization has established several workable projects that will communicate and give a picture of what is in the Southern side. These projects and more will be implemented as soon as funds are made available.
Construction of an eco-lodge
Potter’s camp
Education training center
Tree nurseries
Bee keeping
Butterfly sites
A Proposal is ready for the above USD 280,027.40
Construction of an Eco-Lodge
With the variety of the tourism scenery found therein, with either tented camp or a simple eco-lodge will make the place more unwrap for international and local tourism. There are two possible ways to have either the two facilities, through leasing sight inside the forest department (FD) or obtaining the land in the adjacent area. Other facilities within the lodge site are the workshop hall that will be used at a fee for any workshop done. Other facilities that will accommodate the tourist are Nature walk and cultural orientations regarding the local area. With the proposed Forest Acts gives a greater say to local community in forest management. For instance organized community groups can lease forestland for purpose of raising industrial plantations. They can also do so for purpose of engaging in Ecotourism and other income generation activities.
Potters camp
This will be done in union with eco-lodge, as it will customarily involve the guest from the hotel. With the trained potters and with affirmation from KWS and FD, with the efforts of potters guest and other local tourist will be taken in the forest to climb the famous “ Hill of despair, elephant and Buffalo peaks respectively.
These potters should be well acquitted with the forest and the tourist site and well informed with the tree species and wildlife found therein. With the help of KWS education Department headquarters training will be offered for 4 potters.
Tree nurseries, bee keeping
National Museums of Kenya and Nature Kenya for many years have assisted local CBO’s to establish such projects, SAWA will collaborate with NMK and NMK will implement tree nurseries for the key tree species, such as medicinal, threatened or aesthetical values. Many forest adjacent communities have benefited from the resources found in their forests. For instance community in Arabuko Sokoke butterfly-farming project – Kipepeo project. The farmers have been collecting butterfly eggs and rearing them into pupae which are exported to greenhouse gardens in Europe and the United states. The project has made US$ 200,000 since the project was inaugurated in 1999. Southern Aberdare is very rich in Butterflies and the same can be done in Aberdare forest under SAWA. With the help of NMK and other CBO more participatory approaches and capacity building training will be done, hence to facilitate the projects in the place bordering the Aberdare forest.
Eco- tourism and environmental education
Issues 1 Economic Value Forests provide a variety of economically valuable products. Communities can obtain Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) such as fuel, honey, herbal medicine, ropes, thatching grass, fodder, fruits and gum of immense value. SAWA in collaborations with NMK, NK and KAFU offers some fundamental project growth; this is only in any local CBO’s with biodiversity conservation programs.
The brilliant biodiversity of Aberdare in Southern is an important advantage, which can be used for the enlargement of forest-based eco-tourism. Eco-tourism has the prospective to generate revenue in a non-destructive way and put in value to the forest resources. Its also creates wider awareness of the forest, its magnitude, and the need for its conservation. Despite the fact that eco-tourism is in general friendly with biodiversity conservation, it is necessary to identify openly areas within the forest zones where it can take place without any advance impacts.
There has been some activity in the development of eco-tourism at Aberdare in general, but there is still further potential in Southern side. Several hotels in Nyeri, The Ark hotel, Treetops, Out Span have been involved in upholding the forest as tourist attractions. Distinctive attention will be made to attract visitors to the southern part of Aberdare forest. More promotional and advertisement activities are required to attract more visitors and with SAWA on the ground this will be put into operation. The development of infrastructure and facilities is required to make the forest an attractive eco-tourist objective and to build opportunities for eco-tourism.
On the long-term, environmental education is the key to make certain the future of Aberdare forest. With better-quality understanding and appreciations of its importance especially amongst local people, there will be less vigor in the future for eradication and resistance to destructive advance. SAWA with other environmental education agencies such as WCK, KENGO will start made in the development of environmental education, but further prominence aspects is required to ensure that there is widespread and long-lasting understanding of the importance of the forest and the surrounding resources.
Issues 2: Tourism attraction sights
From the history of Kenya, Southern Aberdare forest was used as the hiding and preparation ground during the Mau Mau war. During this period the group of people who were living in the forest (Mau Mau) lived under the caves and they are still intact and have been identified as historic site for tourism. In the same era of fighting for Independence the group used a common route called “Fort hall route” and by colonies to link with Rift Valley area (Njabini) the road opens a clear way to climb the Aberdare ridge to the famous Buffaloes, elephant peaks and the highest which is Oldonyo Lasatima 4001m.
Before reaching elephant peak, a well spectacular and undulating sight is found whereby one can view buffalo peak that appears like a honey comb suspending in a tree, that place is commonly know as “ the hill of despair” its was called that since many climbers when they reach there and see the location of buffalo peak tend to despair. Other picnic sites are found therein with a lot of salt licks where elephants and other wildlife are commonly observed licking and wallowing in the mud.
Unlike the Northern Aberdare that has Rhino Ark Hotel, Tree tops, Out Span and various camp site Southern Aberdare opens a good place for an Eco-lodge and picnic site as well as nature walk while visiting the pre-historic Mau Mau hiding caves. The common African Bongo that is under threats is found in the southern Aberdare though in the interior. This has been caused by the facts that no predictors like Lions are found in Southern side unlike the Northern side that is commonly known as salient that covers approximately 67sq km and with many lions and Cheetahs.
A plant species commonly know as “Thunguya” in Kikuyu is found in Southern Aberdare. This plant species smell after 7 years and the smell can be noticed at a distance of 20km away from the forest. This species commonly know as “Thunguya in Kikuyu carries some myths that during the period of fruiting many people are observed dying as a result of smell. Comprehensive information can be traced since the time of independent how many people have died as a result of the smell of the species. The areas still open the breeding sights for African hoopoe bird that also carries some myths. People living in the area believe that anytime those birds make noise in the river line rain must be very near and should rain. More facts and research work will be done in collaboration with NMK and WCK and made in public through Komba and NMK magazine.
Enhancing community benefits from the eco-tourism
SAWA will create more opportunities for local community to benefit further from eco-tourisms. This will includes an opportunity for local people to work more closely with KWS, NMK, NK, KAFU and agencies. Visitor’s centers will be extended to include marketing of local products and crafts if any, and for cultural as well as education programme and conservation campaigns as a long term.
In the long-term, improved environmental education will lead to an improved understanding of the importance of conserving Aberdare forest. The stratagem will be to target a range of groups in society through different measures, including schools, and local people. Forming ASETS Aberdare Sustainable Eco-tourism Scheme, which will strengthen school environmental education program,: This will give a clear understanding of what is SAWA in both in photo, video and publication like East African Wildlife Society, WCK magazine, NM and NK publication and through African conservation Journals, and discovery channels.
Wildlife species found.
Southern Aberdare was extensively damaged since the Forest Department (FD) had allowed people to practice Non Residential Cultivation (NRC) in early 90’s. During this period that last for more than 20 year the forest was opened and most of the wildlife were observed moving further in the interior to avoid human being. Elephants Lazodonta africana, buffaloes Syncerus caffer, bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus, and Waterbuck K.ellipsiprymnus were observed crop raiding in their farms as well as Hyena (crocuta crocuta) Leopard. Human activities such as livestock rearing in the forest have been extensively practiced. This has caused people to formulate other ideals such poaching for small antelopes and tree destructions. Other wildlife species commonly in the area includes Black and white Columbus Monkeys Colobus guereza, Bongo Tragelaphus (boocercus) euryceros, Baboon, Papio cynocephalus and other below the knee species like white tailed Mongoose Ichneumia albicauda, Bush babies Galago senegalensis, Tree hyrax Dendrohyrax arboreus: cat family includes Leopard Panthera pardus, Lion Panthera Leo, other invisible wildlife species includes Golden Jackals Canis aureus. Aberdare forest offer home for wide range of different birds, game bird of all the classes for instance. African spoonbill, Hadada ibis, Secretary bird, African harrier hawk, African fish eagle, Common kestrel, Wood sandpiper, African mourning dove, Black cuckoo, Malachite kingfisher, Eurasian bee eater, Fischer sparrow, Lesser grey shrike, Fischer’s starling, Yellow bishop,
Bongo the threatened species has been sighted in the interior parts of Southern Aberdare. In mid 80’s bongo were observed increasing in Aberdare forest in the Northern and sometime early 1990’s they started decreasing as the number of lions increases.
Various researches have been done in Aberdare national park and forest reserve and have proved that, Aberdare have spacious species diversity. NMK, KWS and other research institute have done quite tremendous research work.
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