By Peter Orengo
As the Government and some corporations are accused of abetting the destruction of forests, some communities are leading the way in conservation.
Through a combination of traditional customs and what locals simply term as good manners, community groups have managed to preserve swathes of natural forests.
Ngangau Forest, which is found in Taita Taveta hills, is fresh and green, thanks to local people who have jealously guarded it. They manage it with the assistance of the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
According to scientists, the steep ridges, a favourable climate and the ecological isolation of the Taita Hills from other forests have permitted the development of various endemic species of wildlife, most famously birds.
The forest is thick and dark and its interior echoes with myriad sounds capable of frightening would-be defilers. In the middle is a 200-year-old mother tree, which has attracted thousands of tourists from within and outside the country.
Recently, The Standard found a community association taking tourists through the forest, which is surrounded by three villages.
"We have managed to preserve the trees in this forest due to traditional beliefs and what the community has been harvesting inside it for generations," said Nathaniel Mkombola, the chaiman of Ngangau Forets Community Association.
He said for generations, the three communities have harvested all types of medicine inside the forest with the permission of village elders and medicinemen.
A 1984 study by the East African Wildlife Society and the National Museums of Kenya established the existence of 13 types of plants and nine of animals, which are endemic to these forests.
"Thirty-seven more species of plants in the Taita Hills are rare in Kenya and in the world at large. African violets, too, are said to have had their origins in these hills, and were brought to Europe by the early missionaries; there are some 20 species in all," said Mr John Mbori, the area Forest Zonal manager.
traditional decree
Due to their proximity to forests, community organisations are being hailed as a good solution to conservation. They are mushrooming across the country. In Meru, the 20-acre Giitune Forest is thriving. Trees such as the old Muuru (Meru oak) still blossom, thanks to an age-old traditional decree by the local Njuri Ncheke council of elders.
If an illegal logger is caught defiling the sacred forest, the elders would convene and fine a hefty sum of money or, in default, invoke a traditional curse known as gochiaro.
In Giitune forest, elders were busy conducting a mock trial of a forest destroyer and proclaimed the words: "May whoever continues to destroy this forest be bitten by snakes and become humus for trees."
"Such is the importance attached to Giitune sacred forets that lies in the easterm slopes of Mt Kenya. The community has managed to fend off would be loggers with the help of the area foresters," said Andrew Mutwiri, the chairman of the Giitune Forest Conservation Committee.
Today the forest is recognised as a national heritage site by the National Museums of Kenya.
And about 30 kilomemtres from the coastal city of Mombasa is the sacred forests along the Kenyan coast, Kaya Kinondo, used for rituals and Eco-tourism by the Digo Community. This 30-hectare forest located in Diani beach is considered the seniormost forest for the Digo community and has been proposed as a world heritage site by Unesco.
medicinal plants
Visitors to Kaya Kinondo enjoy a guided walk during which the community shares information on the Kaya and other aspects of the Digo culture.
Unlike other natural forest in the country, it reveals various types of medicinal plants, giant palms, huge oak trees, elephant shrews among other species, all of which grow on the hard surface of the coral soils.
Additionally, Kaya Kinondo Ecotourism Project carries out a wide range of environmental conservation efforts. These include afforestation and raising awareness on the Kaya’s importance. The community uses a set of rules both to safeguard the Kaya’s sanctity and to protect their culture.
Entry into the Kaya is allowed only on certain days, according to a traditional calendar. Visitors are not supposed to litter, smoke or take anything away from the Kaya.
"The natural and ancient forest has been preserved for generations through the traditional beliefs and set of taboos imposed by the kaya elders to safeguard its sanctity and sacredness," said Salim Edward, the manger of the Kaya Kinondo Ecotourism Project.
