MAU COMPLEX UNDER SIEGE

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1 MAU COMPLEX UNDER SIEGE Values and threats A presentation by: UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE KENYA FORESTS WORKING GROUP EWASO NGIRO SOUTH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY May 2008

Introduction: Location and extent U g a n d a S u d a n E t h i o p i a S o m a l i a The The Mau Mau

Mt. Kenya Kenya and and Aberdares Aberdares combined.

2 Introduction: Location and extent U g a n d a S u d a n E t h i o p i a S o m a l i a The The Mau Mau Complex Complex covers covers some some 400, ,000 ha, ha, as as large large as as Mt. Mt. Kenya Kenya and and Aberdares Aberdares combined. combined. It It is is largest largest forest forest of of Kenya. Kenya. As As a a montane montane forest, forest, it it is is one one of of five five main main water water towers towers of of Kenya, Kenya, with with Mt. Mt. Kenya, Kenya, Aberdare Aberdare Range, Range, Mt. Mt. Elgon Elgon and and Cherengani Cherengani Hills. Hills. T a n z a n i a O c e a n I n d i a n

3 Mau Complex: critical water catchments The The Mau Mau Complex Complex forms forms upper upper catchments catchments of of all all (but (but one) one) main main rivers rivers west west of of Rift Rift Valley, Valley, including: including: Nzoia River ( Lake Victoria) Nzoia River ( Lake Victoria) Yala River ( Lake Victoria) Yala River ( Lake Victoria) Nyando River ( Lake Victoria) Nyando River ( Lake Victoria) Sondu River ( Lake Victoria) Sondu River ( Lake Victoria) Mara River ( Lake Victoria) Mara River ( Lake Victoria) Kerio River ( Lake Turkana) Kerio River ( Lake Turkana) Molo River ( Lake Baringo) Molo River ( Lake Baringo) Ewaso Nyiro River ( Lake Natron) Ewaso Nyiro River ( Lake Natron) Njoro River ( Lake Nakuru) Njoro River ( Lake Nakuru) Nderit River ( Lake Nakuru) Nderit River ( Lake Nakuru) Makalia River ( Lake Nakuru) Makalia River ( Lake Nakuru) Naishi River ( Lake Nakuru) Naishi River ( Lake Nakuru) It It feeds feeds major major lakes, lakes, including: including: Lake Victoria Lake Victoria Lake Turkana Lake Turkana Lake Baringo Lake Baringo Lake Nakuru Lake Nakuru Lake Natron Lake Natron of of which which three three are are crossboundary: crossboundary: Lake Victoria (Nile River Basin) Lake Victoria (Nile River Basin) Lake Turkana (Kenya / Ethiopia) Lake Turkana (Kenya / Ethiopia) Lake Natron (Tanzania / Kenya) Lake Natron (Tanzania / Kenya)

4 Mau Complex: catchments with high hydropower potential Nyando River Nyando River Potential: 9.0 MW Potential: 9.0 MW Sondu River Sondu River Potential: MW Potential: MW Developed: 60.0 MW (Sondu-Miriu) Developed: 60.0 MW (Sondu-Miriu) Developed: 4.0 MW (Kericho tea estates) Developed: 4.0 MW (Kericho tea estates) Planned: 21.4 MW (Sang oro) Planned: 21.4 MW (Sang oro) Mara River Mara River Potential: 20.0 MW Potential: 20.0 MW Ewaso Ngiro River Ewaso Ngiro River Potential: MW Potential: MW Yala River Yala River Potential: 50.0 MW Potential: 50.0 MW Planned: 9.2 MW (Nandi tea estates) Planned: 9.2 MW (Nandi tea estates) Total potential: 508 MW Total potential: 508 MW Representing 50% of current Representing 50% of current total installed capacity in total installed capacity in country country Market value of electricity Market value of electricity generated from developed and generated from developed and planned hydropower plants: planned hydropower plants: approx. Kshs 5.3 billion / year approx. Kshs 5.3 billion / year

5 Mau Complex: key to major conservation areas 1 South Turkana National Reserve South Turkana National Reserve Scenic landscape. Wildlife plentiful Scenic landscape. Wildlife plentiful Kerio Valley National Reserve Kerio Valley National Reserve Kamnarok National Reserve Kamnarok National Reserve Lake Baringo Lake Baringo Important Bird Area (over 470 species) Important Bird Area (over 470 species) Lake Nakuru National Park Lake Nakuru National Park Second most visited protected area Second most visited protected area Ramsar Site (1990) Ramsar Site (1990) Important Bird Area (over 450 species) Important Bird Area (over 450 species) Lake Natron Lake Natron Main breeding area for flamingoes Main breeding area for flamingoes in Rift Valley in Rift Valley Maasai Mara National Reserve Maasai Mara National Reserve World famous for big game and World famous for big game and great migration great migration Important Bird Area (over 450 species) Important Bird Area (over 450 species) Serengeti National Park Serengeti National Park World Heritage Site World Heritage Site World famous for big game and World famous for big game and great migration great migration Important Bird Area (over 540 species) Important Bird Area (over 540 species) Maasai Mara NR & Lake Nakuru NP Maasai Mara NR & Lake Nakuru NP Entry fee (2007): Kshs 1.16 billion / year Entry fee (2007): Kshs 1.16 billion / year Direct and indirect revenues (2007): approx. Kshs 5 billion / year Direct and indirect revenues (2007): approx. Kshs 5 billion / year 8 Kakamega Forest National Reserve Kakamega Forest National Reserve Only remnant in Kenya of Guineo- Only remnant in Kenya of Guineo- Congolian forest ecosystem Congolian forest ecosystem High biodiversity (birds, butterflies, plants ) High biodiversity (birds, butterflies, plants )

Values: Key to people s livelihood Values InInaddition addition Mau MauComplex Complex provides environmental provides environmental services servicesessential essentialtotocrop crop production

(medicinal plants, firewood firewoodand andgrazing). grazing). Introduction AAlarge largemajority majorityofofkenya s Kenya s population lives in Lake population lives in Lake Victoria Victoriabasin.

6 Values: Key to people s livelihood Values InInaddition addition Mau MauComplex Complex provides environmental provides environmental services servicesessential essentialtotocrop crop production (continuous production (continuousriver river flow, favourable micro-climate flow, favourable micro-climate conditions) conditions)as aswell wellas asmany many products (medicinal plants, products (medicinal plants, firewood firewoodand andgrazing). grazing). Introduction AAlarge largemajority majorityofofkenya s Kenya s population lives in Lake population lives in Lake Victoria Victoriabasin. basin. This Thisregion regionisis crossed crossedby bymajor majorrivers riversflowing flowing from from Mau MauComplex. Complex. Some Some55 million millionpeople peoplelive liveinin subsublocations crossed by se locations crossed by se rivers. rivers.

Values: Major micro-climate regulators for crops Tea growing areas are located near montane forests where conditions for optimum tea production are met: Constant moisture Soil temperature between 16

7 Values: Major micro-climate regulators for crops Tea growing areas are located near montane forests where conditions for optimum tea production are met: Constant moisture Soil temperature between 16 and 25 ºC Air temperature between 10 and 30 ºC The largest tea growing areas in Kenya are near Mau Complex, in particular South West Mau forest (Kericho), Tinderet and Norrn Tinderet forests. Kericho and Nandi highlands near Mau Complex Kericho and Nandi highlands near Mau Complex Market value of tea (2007): approx. Kshs 8 billion / year Market value of tea (2007): approx. Kshs 8 billion / year Source: The Tea Map of Kenya, The Tea Board of Kenya, 2003

8 : 2001 forest excisions and illegal encroachments Estimated number of households South West Mau 2,300 13,000 Eastern Mau 15,000 Maasai Mau 2,400

9 : 2001 forest excisions and illegal encroachments Estimated number of households South West Mau 2,300 13,000 Eastern Mau 15,000 Maasai Mau 2,400

10 Eastern Mau FR: 2001 excision affects top of Mau In 2001, Government excised over 67,000 hectares of forest reserve land, mainly in Mau Complex. The largest excisions affected Eastern Mau Forest Reserve and South West Mau Forest Reserve where 35,301 ha and 22,797 ha respectively were excised representing 54.3 % and 27.3 % of se forests. The excision in Eastern Mau covers parts of summit of Mau escarpment.

11 Eastern Mau FR: 2001 excisions affect Lake Nakuru Introduction Values

12 Eastern Mau FR: 2001 excisions affect Lake Nakuru The 2001 excision in Eastern Mau impacts tremendously on catchment of Lake Nakuru. Between 1973 and 2003, 36,780 hectares of dense vegetation cover were lost in catchment of Lake Nakuru, representing a loss of 49 % of its total dense vegetation cover. Boreholes are already drying (Egerton University) and rivers becoming seasonal (Njoro) Loss of dense vegetation cover between Inside FR: 15,820 ha Outside FR: 20,960 ha Total: 36,780 ha Sources - Landsat MSS and ETM images. False colour composition - Forest boundaries: KIFCON project, Forest Department

13 Eastern Mau FR: 2001 excisions affect Lake Baringo Introduction Values

14 South West Mau FR: 2001 excisions & illegal encroachments Introduction Values

15 South West Mau FR: Illegal encroachments Photograph taken on 24 February 2007

Maasai Mau: Past forest destruction The boundaries of Maasai Mau Forest (46,278 hectares) were agreed upon in 1987,

More recently, encroachments have taken place inside forest boundaries.

Inside boundaries: 3,382 hectares Outside boundaries: 16,948 hectares Outside boundaries: 16,948 hectares Total:

and outside boundaries of Maasai Mau outside boundaries of Maasai Mau Legend River boundary Ridge boundary Straight

16 Maasai Mau: Past forest destruction The boundaries of Maasai Mau Forest (46,278 hectares) were agreed upon in 1987, based on work of Ntutu Commission. Since delineation, large tracks of forest were clear felled outside boundaries. More recently, encroachments have taken place inside forest boundaries. Loss of forest cover between Loss of forest cover between Inside boundaries: 3,382 hectares Inside boundaries: 3,382 hectares Outside boundaries: 16,948 hectares Outside boundaries: 16,948 hectares Total: 20,330 hectares Total: 20,330 hectares representing 30 % of forest inside and representing 30 % of forest inside and outside boundaries of Maasai Mau outside boundaries of Maasai Mau Legend River boundary Ridge boundary Straight line boundary Forest-forest boundary Main encroachment Sources - Landsat TM and ETM images. False colour composition - Forest boundaries: KIFCON project, Forest Department

17 Maasai Mau: forest destruction Flight path Photographs Photograph taken on 17 February 2005

18 Maasai Mau: forest destruction Flight path Photographs Photograph taken on 17 February 2005

19 Maasai Mau: forest destruction Flight path Photographs Photograph taken on 17 February 2005

20 Maasai Mau: forest destruction Drive path Photographs Photograph taken on 21 April 2005

21 Ol Pusimoru: current forest destruction Photograph taken on 23 January 2008

22 Maasai Mau / Ol Pusimoru: Impacts on Ewaso Ngiro River Introduction Values

Transmara FR: Private tea estates Kiptagich Tea Estate Location: Transmara Forest Reserve Area: 937.

23 Transmara FR: Private tea estates Kiptagich Tea Estate Location: Transmara Forest Reserve Area: hectares Status: gazetted forest Excision Gazette Notice: 3 March 1989 Excision Legal Notice: none Photograph taken on 28 June 2004

24 Transmara FR: Private tea estates Tea growing outside Estate in neighbouring gazetted indigenous forest Landsat, 4 February 2003

25 Introduction Values Transmara FR: Impacts on Mara River

Sanctuary Masai Mara Seasonal Camp, Masai Mara

Sanctuary Masai Mara Seasonal Camp, Masai Mara Page 1 of 7 Seasonal Camping Sanctuary Masai Mara Seasonal Camp is located on a private concession on the banks of the Mara River and is operational from