Ngaya Forest ; Restoring ‘jumbos maternity’

Ngaya Forest was referred to as the elephant maternity since the jumbos would go there to deliver their young. This is, however, no more with about 500 hectares of the 4,019 hectares destroyed by human settlement.

This has led to blossoming of the invasive lantana camara weed which chokes other plants when it grows on grounds cleared of trees.

The forest is also source to rivers that flow to Meru National Park and home to a rich ecosystem comprising of different plant and animal species. Locals also depend on the forest for traditional medicine.

The destruction is, however, not going unchecked following efforts by a local group to reclaim the lost forest cover and so far one hectare is under the care of Ngaya Forest Association.

The association’s secretary, Mary Nkoyai says that there are eleven groups working to rehabilitate the forest that has been put under lots of pressure by the ballooning population.

“Unfortunately, most of our residents are not aware of the key role this forest plays in sustaining the park. Many would rather get instant benefits not knowing that if they clear the forest then in the long run, there will be no wildlife heritage and revenue,” she says.

Kenya Wildlife Services has stepped in to address this apathy by organising frequent tours for locals to Meru National Park so they can have a clearer picture of what they stand to lose.

To rehabilitate parts of the forest that have been destroyed, one acre has been planted with a fast growing tree species.

The group is also engaged in beekeeping as a viable source of income to prevent cutting down of trees which are then sold as fuel or charcoal.

The Born Free Foundation has also stepped in to help with conservation efforts with Programmes Officer Victor Mutuma saying the shamba system could be reintroduced so that locals learn to grow crops and trees at the same time.

“Fast maturing crops can be grown among the trees and tended together with them. But this will be controlled so that locals do not abuse the system and further destroy the forest,” he says.

Mutuma also observed that plans are in place to reclaim two more acres from the invasive weed.

This campaign comes at a time when only five of the 15 rivers that flow through the park remain permanent.

There are also plans, according to Mutuma, to promote ecotourism in conjunction with the local community.

“This will increase revenue for the local groups and dissuade people from getting into the forest to look for money by cutting trees for sale,” he says.

Not far away from the forest is Matirine Primary School which has established a wildlife club. The youngsters are taught to take care of the environment and the forest in a bid to encourage conservation from an early age.