Kenya Tourism Industry: Conserving the Kenyan Forests

Posted at July 19, 2010

A few years back people could not understand why a prominent woman such as Professor Wangari Maathai would lisk her life for a course such as saving the environment. The founder of the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women’s rights; contributed heavily to sustainable development, democracy and peace in Kenya.

Such passion is what we all should emulate when it comes to conserving our environment and more so our forests which currently cover an estimated 2%-3% of the total Kenya land mass far from the recommended 30% forest cover in every country.

Why? You may ask, well! Since the very beginning forests covered about 60% [this has however reduced to 30%] of the planet earth and have continually served a great purpose in our lives.

Economically, millions of people earn their living directly or indirectly such include wood production industries which produce timber used for making furniture, construction of hotels/lodges/homes, railway sleepers and ships not forgetting the lucrative pulp and paper industries which really heavily on cellulose of trees. Other products include some processed wood products such as cellophane, plastics, synthetic fibers like rayon and nylon.

Latex from trees such as the rubber tree goes to make tyres, tunes and a wide range of rubber goods. All this products and many more are useful for the sustainment of the tourism industry.

Environmentally, forests ensure constant rainfall, an oxygenated environment as they take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. They also conserve soil by preventing rapid runoff of water after heavy rain and minimize flooding. In turn all these work together for the sustainment of wildlife through provision of food, shelter and protection from the scotching sun.

This said we know that wildlife is one of the biggest attractions in Kenya with thousands of tourists looking forward to having the safari experience of a life time. They also enjoy an also enjoy an awe-inspiring atmosphere with scenic beauty and free of pollution.

The rapid destruction of forests in Kenya is causing an alarm as the effects of deforestation is being felt everywhere. Some hotels at the coast of Kenya lost business some time back due to lack of adequate water attributed to the low forest cover in the country. Wildlife population is declining by the day due to lack of enough food and water.

Rivers and lakes which serve as a source of water and a habitat for wildlife are also drying up, a good example of this is Lake Nakuru which saw the millions of flamingos drastically reduce in number as they migrated from the lake in such of a lake richer in algae and with adequate water as Lake Nakuru was experiencing dangerously low water levels incapable of sustaining a large population of flamingos.

However they water levels have since risen and once again the lake is a sight to behold as the millions of pink and white flamingos cover the shores of the lake. If deforestation continues not only will we loose wildlife but human life as well as seen in the year 2000 when Kenya experienced severe drought partly linked to the nation-wide lack of forest cover where several Kenyans lost their lives.

Kenya is endowed with an array of forests ranging from coastal forest, central high mountain forests to the thick wet rainforests found Western part of the country. These forests support more than just an assorted range of tree and plant species; they are also the habitat of a wide array of wildlife including monkey families, rare chameleons, elephant herds, elusive leopards, colorful butterflies not to mention abundant birdlife.

With all these to boast about Kenyan forests offer the traveler a wide range of options which help make your holiday all the more memorable. Some of these forests include Arabuko sokoke located north of the coastal town of Mombasa, Aberdares in the Mount Kenya region and the equatorial rain forest of Kakamega in western Kenya a mention of a few.

Ranking high in Kenya’s list of water towers are Mount Kenya and Mau forests; these highland forests are known to absorb, store and gradually release rain water. The Mau forest complex is located in the Great Rift Valley covering an area of an area of 273,300 hectares. It prides itself in being the largest water catchment area in Kenya with numerous rivers originating from the forest, including Ewaso Ng’iro River (southern), Sondu River, Mara River and Njoro River.

These rivers feed Lake Victoria, Lake Nakuru and Lake Natron. Initially the forest was only inhabited by the Ogiek people who led a sustainable lifestyle of hunting and gathering; however other ethnic tribes began to invade the forest marking the beginning of Mau forest destruction as they begun to slowly clear the forest to make way for cultivation and settlement. Recent forest clearance in the Eastern Mau region is already impacting on local weather conditions and has turned permanent streams into seasonal ones, damaging agriculture and fisheries and threatening lakes with siltation.

Concerted efforts to conserve and rehabilitate this water tower led by the honorable Prime Minister Raila Odinga have seen the eviction of the settlers in 2009 where those who attained their title deeds legally were compensated and the others left to face the cold reality of being homeless a consequence of land grabbing. This gained support of a majority of Kenyans who had come to learn the hard way about the importance of conserving forests.

Mount Kenya forest covering an area of 705 square kilometers is a belt in Africa’s second highest mountain Mt.Kenya. Together with the national park, the forest reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

In an effort to preserve an area of great scenic beauty, to conserve the biodiversity within the park, and to preserve the water catchment for the surrounding area the government of Kenya created a national park on and around Mount Kenya as they are important to tourism for the local and national economies.

Forests are not only essential for the sustainability of the tourism industry but all industries in general and above all the survival of the human species. Therefore it is every ones responsibility to conserve forests and in the case of Kenya plant more trees to ensure an increase in forest cover as this brings about a healthy and beautiful environment free from noise pollution and destructive winds.

Change begins with you, for every tree you cut down plant four.