Why restoration of Nyekweri Forest is key to community survival, wildlife conservation

Elephants frequent Nyekweri Forest to give birth and nurse the young. [Peter Muiruri, Standard] In a small clearing inside Nyekweri Forest overlooking the Maasai Mara Triangle, Narok County, Simon Saitoti slows down in his tracks. The small team of local conservationists behind him take the cue and train their eyes to some small spaces in between the trees. "They could be anywhere around here," says Saitoti, referring to herds of elephants that make frequent forays into this forest. But apart from the sounds of chirping birds and ruffling leaves, we find no signs of the jumbos, at least not at this particular segment of the forest. "But they are usually here and we need to be cautious. This is their home. We are intruders," Saitoti says. The forest is well known as a safe haven for Maasai Mara elephants who use the secluded region to give birth and nurse their young before rejoining the greater herds in the game reserve. Nyekweri is also home to rare animals such as the giant ground pangolin, Schalow's turaco and the tree hyrax. Unfortunately, land subdivision that puts formerly community lands in the hands of individuals has led to unsustainable land use including charcoal burning and loss of biodiversity, much to the disadvantage of the local community and wildlife. Saitoti is among young men and women from the local Emurutoto, Saparingo, and Iltolish communities who are spearheading the rehabilitation of the forest through an elaborate tree planting drive. "Nyekweri is the backbone of Maasai Mara. Without the forest, part of the Mara triangle would be affected because this is a key animal corridor especially the elephants. By the way, we also have elephants that live in this forest and have never been to Mara," says Saitoti. As the 'bedroom' for lactating elephants, conservationists fear extensive interference with the forest's ecosystem will aggravate human-wildlife conflicts by bringing wild animals closer to human habitation. "Some are fencing off the subdivided property. Others are setting up gardens and attracting herbivores who see easy pickings. Then you have situations where animals that rely on dense forest cover such as leopards and sometimes lions coming into close proximity with humans. There are cases where elephants are translocated to other areas after they trample a human. But are we going to relocate every animal that harms a human?" Saitoti asks. According to Saitoti, conservation fails if the interests of local communities are overlooked while conserving wildlife, adding that these communities must see the benefits of conservation. "If we save the forest, we save the animals and humans too," he says. At a local nursery near the forest, the group through a collaboration with Wild Impact, an organization with roots in South Africa, collects both seeds and seedlings from the forest which they then propagate to replant in the bare parts of the forest. "We prefer the indigenous trees as they have more medicinal value and good at combating the effects of climate change unlike some of the exotic trees that consume large amounts of water," says Daniel Tumpesi, a local community and conservation ranger. Currently, the nursery has close to 27,000 seedlings. Simon Saitoti, left, with fellow conservitionists in Saparingo, Narok. [Peter Muiruri, Standard] The forest is also hallowed ground for the local Maasai community who use it as a source of medicinal plants and where their warriors retreat for cultural experiences. Tumpesi says Maasai's rich culture would be adversely affected if the forest continues to dwindle as a result of increased human activities. As a young warrior, he has been to the forest several times for cultural rites that would not be possible without conserving the forest. "We go there to eat meat and drink soup mixed with local medicinal herbs. This is knowledge that is passed on to coming generations by our forefathers. If the indigenous trees disappear, what knowledge will the elders pass on to future generations?" asks Tumpesi. To build their manyattas, the local community sustainably uses the bark of certain trees as roping material. According to Tumpesi, this saves the community money that can then be used for other household needs, including food and education. "Some of those trees are disappearing due to land being cleared either for charcoal burning or cultivation. Now we have to buy nails to build houses where we used the natural ropes," he says. Rhoda Sepei, another community and conservation ranger says most medicinal plants used by the Maasai are found in the forest. She fears the loss of biodiversity in Nyekweri will impact the maternal health as some trees contain curative elements used by mothers after giving birth. "The leaves and barks of the African green heart are used by mothers after delivery to treat inflammation. It is bitter and leads to diarrhea but has long-lasting benefits to women. It is also mixed with soup and taken by men to aid in digestion," she says. Sepei grew up in this community and always shared the ecosystem with wild animals, using the resources from the forest sustainably. "We only collected dead trees for firewood," she says. "Now we have to travel even further to collect firewood as some pieces of land are now under cultivation and out of bounds." Some of the knowledge about the medicinal value of certain plants has been collected by observing the behaviour and feeding patterns of some wild animals. For example, elephants have been observed feeding on certain plants to help them digest the large amount of food they take in. A grown elephant can eat up to 200 kilogrammes of food per day. The small team has enlisted the help of local schools where conservation has been included in the curriculum. During our visit to Saparingo School, for example, one upper class was busy discussing the benefits of conserving the local environment through a teacher seconded by Wild Impact and tour operator andBeyond. "These children need to know the measures to take in protecting the environment. I see the future of the forest in the learners in these classes. We tell them that this is the Maasai Mara that will employ and educate them. They have no choice that help in conserving it," says Tumpesi. Nyekweri, together with Mau and Loita, are the three main forests with long-lasting impacts on Maasai Mara, one of the most famous wildlife conservation areas in the world. Alarmed by widespread degradation, conservationists have resulted to the use of satellite imaging and cameras to monitor their health and help in the rehabilitation. "If the forest goes, Maasai Mara goes," says Saitoti. "While the animals might move south to Serengeti and Loita, this is still the same ecosystem. At some point, the animals will have nowhere else to go. Today, we are telling guests that you can see the big five in the Mara but imagine coming to Mara and never seeing an elephant because their ecosystem is dead. We must educate the community in restoring the forest otherwise our children may not find the forest or the elephant."

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