The Mukogodo Forest

A view of Mukogodo Forest ecosystem

Out of a total 372 gazetted forests, the Mukogodo is one of the nation’s few remaining dry forests reserve --- a mosaic of closed forest, open forest and open grasslands which covers a landmass of 30,189 Ha. The forest and surrounding group ranches are located in the core of Kenya’s Laikipia – Samburu ecosystem which hosts Kenya’s second highest density of wildlife including the highest concentration of elephant outside of protected areas. It hosts a critical corridor of regular elephant movement between Samburu lowlands, the Laikipia plateau and Mt. Kenya Forest Reserve. For centuries, the Mukogodo provided the Yaaku — traditionally a hunter-gatherer community — with buffalo, hyrax, giraffe, and other animals, along with forest berries and honey. But they were evicted from their cave dwellings in the forest when the Kenyan government seized the Mukogodo and converted it into a forest reserve in 1932. In the decades that followed, the Yaaku acculturated with the pastoralist Maasai and Samburu and began livestock herding and small-scale farming following hunting ban by Kenyan government in 1977.

The Forest Act of 2005 granted the Yaaku rights to forest resources in the Mukogodo. In 2007, the government granted the Yaaku a greater role in forest stewardship under the Forest Management and Conservation Act as part of Kenya’s first participatory forest management effort (the Act is in accordance with Article 56 of Kenya’s Constitution, requiring the state to promote programs that ensure minorities and marginalized groups can “develop their cultural values, languages, and practices.”). The annual forest cover loss with Mukogodo is estimated to be 383 ha which is threatening their social, economic and environmental wellbeing. Yaaku community confront these challenges at a time where climate change is rampant and livelihood generation is undergoing rapid change that's. Cases of intrusion and encroachment keeps growing with some people settling permanently in the forest forever. That’s why we partner with these communities in providing them with the tools, resources, and services they need to conserve this ecosystem. These will contribute to the possibility for peace, stability, and progress.

550

4

communities directly depend on the ecosystem for resources

and above elephants depend on Mukogodo Forest for pasture, water and home.

383 ha

annual forest cover loss

Between 1990 and 2010, Kenya’s forest cover decreased from 12 percent to only 6 percent, but the country aims to bring it back to 10 percent by 2030. Deforestation is largely driven by unsustainable forest use by communities, including logging for construction materials and fuelwood, overgrazing, land use change and grass fires, and is aggravated by population growth and the lack of alternative livelihoods. This threaten vital ecosystem services, and lead to conflict and the loss of biodiversity, especially in a context of increased droughts due to climate change and poor water management. In these regards, ACTNOW KENYA primary goal is to support conservation within Mukogodo forest ecosystem through education, tree planting, bare land restoration and natural resources management.

Learn about The Mukogodo forest restoration;

The Mukogodo Forest Walk Edition

Every year in August, The ILMAMUSI CFA---Yaaku community forest association organizes the Mukogodo Forest Walk to promote raise awareness on climate action and conservation and plant trees together with different stakeholders. The walk provides a proper collaborative environment for Mukogodo Forest conservation. In 2023, together with the communities, Laikipia county government, Kenya forest service, FAO among other stakeholders, we planted 8,000 tree seedlings in- and within the forest.

Mukogodo Forest is home to 45 mammal species, including threatened elephants, buffaloes and leopards, as well as around 200 bird and 100 butterfly species.