Where elders curse those who cut indigenous forests

By Peter OrengoAbove the din over unrestrained environmental degradation at the Mau complex, some communities have defied odds to show the way in conserving indigenous forests.In Meru Central, trees such as the old muuru (Meru oak) thrive in the thick giitune forest, which is protected from destruction through traditional decrees by the local Njuri Ncheke (council of elders).The forest is thick and dark and its interior echoes with myriad sounds. If an illegal logger is caught defiling the sacred 20-acre forest, the elders would convene and fine him a hefty sum of money or, in default, invoke a traditional curse against him known as gochiaro.In a recent trip by journalists around the best preserved forest gem, the Njuri Ncheke conducted a mock trial of a forest destroyer and proclaimed the words: "May whoever continues to destroy this forest be bitten by its snakes and become humus for the trees."Such is the importance attached to giitune sacred forest that lies on the eastern slopes of Mt Kenya. Massive deforestationHowever, giitune originally covered 30 acres but its size has diminished as a result of deforestation.Today, it is recognised as a national heritage site by the National Museums of Kenya.Maasai morans grazing cattle near Loita Forest, which is a community forest reserve.Mr Andrew Mutwiri, the chairman of Giitune Forest Conservation Committee told journalists the undergrowth in the forest had been stripped bare three years ago by people, who sought grass for their livestock and trees for charcoal."The Njuri Ncheke closed it to the public for two years to stem the damage," Mutwiri said.Mr Njuguna Gichere, a research scientist on cultural heritage at the National Museums of Kenya and who has worked in Meru for more than 10 years, says a cultural attachment to forests among the Meru is behind the mass tree planting farms and gazetted forests.An elder M’mwongo M’Rimberia says through an interpreter: "The environment can do without mankind, but mankind cannot do without the environment, not even for a single day."The only other traditional initiative similar to giitune is the Kaya forests in Coast.Elsewhere, about 320km south of Nairobi is another jealously protected 33,000-hectare forest, next to the world famous Masai Mara Game Reserve.The Loita Forest is little tainted by destruction due to conservation decrees by local Maasai traditional council of elders.Surrounding the dense forest is a community of about 25,000 people, who opposed and won, plans to turn their forested hills, also known as ‘The forest of the lost child" into a game reserve. The forest is the source of Kanunga and Kalasur rivers, which pour into Lake Magadi and Ewaso Nyiro River.Mr Lekaikai Lekaitoto, one of the elders of the Loita community, conducted journalists around the forest, covering just a quarter of the forest in a walk that took half a day.Lives on the line"We use the forest for medicine, food, water and building. We would put our lives on the line if anyone interfered with this forest," Lekaitoto says.He says every seven years, the Maasai throng the Loita Forest for age grade ceremonies and the blessing for female fertility, performed by the Laibons, Maasai spiritual leaders.The forest is guarded by morans, who report to a council of elders, led by a Laibon. Youth groups go round the forest to make sure no one gets inside to cut trees.In the early 90s, the Narok County Council sought to develop the forest for mass tourism, as an extension to the Mara Reserve, but met strong opposition from the community, who saw the initiative as a ploy to permanently remove them from their ancestral land. The local community joined to set up what is today called Naimina Enkiyio Conservancy Trust.In 1994, the Loita trust filed a lawsuit against Narok County Council and gained legal entitlement to the forest. Their legal case referred to article 8 (j) of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, recognised and signed by Kenya, to respect and maintain indigenous knowledge, practices and sustainable use of biodiversity.Instead of gazetting the forest as a game reserve, the trust chose alternative low-key tourist facilities such as tented camps and nature treks.Today, in recognition of the threats to their natural resources, the Loita Maasai have established the Loita Development Foundation, which is a community trust aimed at attaining sustainable use of natural resources in the Loita area and especially its famous sacred forest. They have also developed a forest management program to establish their own permanent forest management structure and to safeguard the resource for ecotourism.Mr John Saruni, a tour guide, is among few people allowed to bring tourists and visitors into the forest. Guardians of resourcesHe says the community has the sole responsibility to prove their ability as guardians of this precious forest.The spiritual leader or Laibon, together with the council of elders, traditionally control grazing, monitoring of wildlife and the state of the environment, the collection of entrance fees, camping fees and bed-night levies. According to Rudolf Makhanu, East African Wildlife Society Technical Project Officer and a member of Kenya Forest Working Group, Loita Forest is the best example of what communities can do to conserve forests.

Where elders curse those who cut indigenous forests

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