In early March, made a visit to Nairobi and Nakuru, Kenya, to meet with collaborators The Nature Conservancy and the GreenBelt Movement. I have been working with Kenyan consultants, Eco-Link, on the development of a baseline socio-economic survey to be implemented in intervention villages on the edge of the Mau Forest. The Green Belt Movement has been engaged with nursery-building, reforestation, and livelihood efforts in several villages, with support of TNC.
The Green Belt Movement (GBM) is an NGO that focuses on reforestation by engaging communities at the grassroots. The GBM supports groups such as that below to build nurseries and plant trees. In addition, there are efforts to expand livelihood activities beyond those requiring extractive use of the forest.
Proud nursery managers – note that this is in a location only accessible by foot, donkey or 4-wheel drive!
Lovely tree seedlings in re-usable Green Belt Movement bags – both are a source of real pride for village residents.
Me asking questions of the wonderful project manager, Ezekiel. He took such care with me during the visit, always keeping me safe since I'm unfamiliar with the social terrain (this is my first project in Kenya, I usually work in South Africa).
This visit was during the long rainy season (March-May) so all is quite lush although they've had severe drought conditions the past two years. Many of the seedlings in the nursery are about to be planted to capture the short-term moisture bounty.
Beehives that are part of the effort to find alternative ways to make income.
Donkeys do everything – and often look very hungry.
Believe it or not, THIS is the Mau forest. See why I got a sunburn?
Local residents need the forest as a source of energy for cooking.
This pile of fuelwood belongs to the woman above. She wasn't happy to have her picture taken.
Illegal charcoal making is a primary livelihood activity. Trees are cut down, and the wood smothered in a homemade kiln such as we stumbled upon here. The wood doesn't combust, so becomes charcoal and is sold at local markets to be used as cooking fuel. In our survey, nearly half of respondents noted charcoal as their primary livelihood activity -- no wonder there are no trees – but there simply aren't options for generation of the income needed to feed the family. Agricultural production has recently suffered severely due to drought. Vicious circle.
An eroded Mau forest hillside.
A Green Belt Movement / Nature Conservancy seedling. There are nearly 10,000 planted in this section of the forest. Even The Nature Conservancy – a typically biologically-based conservation organization – understands that without finding alternative ways for local villagers to sustain their families, these seedlings won't make it to full grown trees.
In the distance, Lake Naivasha, fed by the "water tower" which is the Mau forest. The lake is famous for its flamingos – which are in peril due to deforestation on the hillsides above.
Downtown Ngong Hills has all one could need: an electronics store, hair salon, downtown meeting room, ATM ("MPesa is banking through cell phones) and a bar.
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