Nature net

2018·0.4 MB·English

by  Nature Kenya

naturekenya.org July 2018
Mt. Kenya Forest restoration Phas
two initiative kicks off
Hi
The public-private seltoor* ,
partnership for sustain^^e*witfer J
flows from Mt. Kenya forest
Nature Kenya initiative that seeks
strategic commitment and support
from the business sector to enhance
the quantity and quality of water
flowing from Mt. Kenya.
Under the initiative, Nature
Kenya worked with the five CFAs
with financing from KBL. The CFAs
received support for establishing
tree nurseries with a capacity of
100,000 seedlings for each. Nature
Kenya, through funding from the
Critical Ecosystem Partnership
Fund (CEPF), also built the capacity
of four water services sellers (Mt.
Kenya Biodiversity Conservation
Group, Naro Moru, Gathiuru and
Ngare Ndare CFAs) in Mt. Kenya to
engage with water buyers, seeking
commitment from them to pay
back business proceeds for water
catchment management and threat
removal. £
A
Ms. Kinya Kimotho plants a tree at Naro Moru to launch phase two
target of 53,000 tree Launched in 2017 by KBL in
of the Mt. Kenya Forest restoration initiative sponsored by Kenya
seedlings have been partnership with Nature Kenya Breweries Limited. (Below) Some of the community members who
earmarked for planting in and local CFAs, the Mt. Kenya turned up for the tree-planting exercise. PHOTOS: NORMAN kiboi
the second phase of the Mt. Kenya Forest restoration initiative aims
Forest restoration sponsored by at restoring 250 acres of degraded
Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL). This forest in Mt. Kenya by planting
phase will involve five community 100,000 tree seedlings by the end
forest associations (CFAs): Flombe, of 2018. A total of 47,000 tree
Kabaru, Naro Moru, Gathiuru and seedlings were planted in different
Ngare-Ndare.The tree-planting blocks of Mt. Kenya Forest in 2017.
exercise was flagged off by KBL’s The initiative not only contributes
Finance Director Ms. Kinya Kimotho to reforestation, but also supports
during the World Environment Day over 30,000 beneficiaries around
celebrations held on June 5 at Naro the Mt. Kenya Forest. All seedlings
Moru, Nyeri County. planted are sourced from the five
A team from KBL, under the CFAs. The CFAs are also involved in
staff-driven KijaniTeam initiative, the planting and nurturing of the
joined members of the community trees.
in planting 2,500 tree seedlings at The Mt. Kenya ecosystem
Naro Moru. Speaking during the provides water to key national parks
event, Ms. Kimotho, who is also the and generates half of the country's
KijaniTeam patron, expressed KBL's total hydropower. It is an important
commitment to environmental water catchment - the source of the
conservation, particularly the Ewaso Nyiro North and Tana River
restoration of Mt. Kenya Forest. Ms. systems, which are vital to Kenya's
Kinya added that KBL was proud to economic development, food
have come this far with the forest security and energy generation.
restoration programme.
United in beating plastic pollution
40 By J". Mtoac. /icu-o
P
lastic pollution is a global problem that The exercise netted a substantial amount of
many nations are grappling to address. plastic waste, which included discarded water
Plastic waste is a major pollutant of our bottles, containers and bags.
environment and poses a serious threat to the
marine ecosystem as well as our very own well¬
being. This year's World Environment Day (WED)
theme "Beat Plastic Pollution", with the rallying
call: “If you can't reuse it, refuse it”, sought to
promote sustainable initiatives aimed at reducing
plastic pollution. Nature Kenya joined the rest of
the world in marking this day at various locales Kilifi County Environment CEC Kiringi
across the country. Mwachitu planting a tree to mark WED.
Kenya became a leader in this effort last year by
banning the manufacture, sale and use of plastic The event was graced by the Kilifi Assistant
bags. A few practical exceptions were made, County Commissioner Dominic Kinyanjui, who
such as labeled bags for waste disposal. There is was the chief guest, Kilifi County Environment
still a lot of plastic used in packaging, however, CEC Kiringi Mwachitu, Garashi Ward MCA
requiring further action. Peter Ziro, representatives from the Kenya
In Dakatcha Woodland Important Bird Area Forest Service, Bore Green Umbrella, Dakatcha
at the Coast, the event was marked at the Bore Community Forest Association, Dakatcha
Singwaya Primary School on June 9. Vivo Energy Woodland Conservation Group and Action
Kenya, for the fourth year running, sponsored the Aid, among others. Over 250 students and 150
event which kicked off with a clean-up exercise at community members participated in the event.
Marafa town. Students from Marafa Polytechnic The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Park was the venue
and Marafa Primary School joined members for the WED celebrations in Siaya, where over
of the Sauti ya Kina Mama community-based 300 people participated in the event. A clean-up
organization in collecting waste materials around Plastic waste collected during the clean¬ exercise, tree planting session and a bird walk
the town. up at Marafa town. were among activities held to mark the day.
Nature Kenya was actively involved the planning
After the clean-up, students from Bore Singwaya, for the event. In the Taita Hills, the event was held
Baraka, Kandunguni, and Kundeni primary at the Dawson Mwanyumba stadium, Wundanyi,
schools joined in for the celebrations. Living up to on June 6, with Nature Kenya participating.
the theme, students from Bore Singwaya Primary This year's national celebrations were held
School demonstrated how discarded plastic at the Kwale Baraza Park, Kwale County, and
bottles could be innovatively used to drip-irrigate were presided over by the Deputy President
tree seedlings planted to mark the event. The William Ruto on June 6. Nature Kenya was among
students also showcased other creative ways of organizations involved in the planning of the
reusing plastic bottles. national event. *,
COUNTY GOVE?NMENftor KILiFli
DEPARTMENT Or HEALlTservicfs*
The clean-up at Marafa town. Bore Singwaya Primary School pupils demonstrating how to reuse discarded plastic
bottles. Drip-irrigation using plastic bottles, all photos by John mwacharo
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Layout Jo/7/1 MtoacJiaro THE EAST AFRICA NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY
Front banner P. tfs/iet- £ Nature-Kenya d)Nature_Kenya CRITICAL EPUCROTMSMYHSIPT FEUNMD
Mars atiitsfbest
* fy
r-
This month all five planets New moon is on July 13.
that can be seen with
July Stars
the unaided eye are in
The sparkling orange
the evening sky. Venus is
star Arcturus is north of
brilliant in the west. Little
Jupiter. Arcturus is at
Mercury is below Venus,
the tip of a kite-shaped
above the sunset. Golden
constellation, or star
Jupiter is high overhead,
pattern, that the ancient
a little to the east; and
Greeks called Bootes the
golden Saturn, not as
Herdsman. The blue-white
bright, is lower in the east.
star Spica is west of
Mars, glowing orange- Jupiter. And the reddish
Nature Kenya’s Simon Shat! speaks about the dangers of wildlife red, is now brighter than star Antares, the fiery eye
poisoning during a community outreach at the Naikarra market, Narok Jupiter! That's because its of the constellation of the
County. PHOTO: REBECCA IKACHOI orbit around the sun brings Scorpion, is below Jupiter,
it closer to Earth this in the southeast.
Singing and dancing to stop wildlife poisoning month than it has in years.
In the south there are
Rising in the east during
two brilliant stars. Alpha
S the evening. Mars is in the
«r By ZkacJio’ and Beta Centauri in
sky all night. As the Earth
the constellation of the
ongs and dances are effective serve as meeting points for people rotates towards the east,
Centaur. Alpha Centauri,
awareness tools. These two from various areas seeking to exchange the planets Seem to move
the brightest, is actually
mediums, often used to entertain, livestock and purchase food. Unlike across the sky towards the
composed of three stars.
communicate and transmit culture, have holding public meetings in villages and west; Mars is still low in
Two of these stars, Alpha
a strong appeal to the public, particularly manyattas, the performances attracted the west at dawn.
Centauri A and Alpha
at the community level. Through such huge crowds, leading to a higher rate of
The moon is near Mars on Centauri B, are very close
performances people are not only message transmission. Members of public
July first; near Venus on to each other; to us they
entertained but also get to learn a thing thronged venues where the performances
the 16th. near Jupiter on appear as one. They are
or two. were held, some of them even recording
July 20 & 21, near Saturn about 4.3 light-years away
An awareness campaign aimed at the proceedings on mobile phones to
on 24 & 25. On July 27 from us, the nearest stars
sensitizing communities on the dangers share on social media platforms.
the moon will be near Mars to our sun. The third star
of wildlife poisoning through song and Gauging by its popularity, it appears that
again, and will go through a in the system, a small,
dance took place in Maasai Mara in June. the outreach is having a positive impact
lunar eclipse: red star called Proximo
The outreach, involving shows by a troupe as an awareness tool. Over 6,000 people
Centauri, is even closer to
of traditional Maasai artists named the were reached through the awareness Lunar Eclipse
us - 4.22 light years away.
Buffalo Dancers, staged a series of public campaign that was undertaken jointly On the night of July 27
performances at seven markets in seven by Nature Kenya and the Mara Predator to 28, the Earth will be In the southwest, the
days. Using songs, choral chants and Conservation Programme. between the full moon Southern Cross is tilting
drama the performers visited Ngosuani, Nature Kenya is implementing the and the sun. The moon will towards the west. Across
Naikarra, Ewaso Ng'iro, Olpusimoru, "Saving the African Vulture" Project in the thus pass right across the the sky, low in the north,
Nkeneji, Oloolaimutia and Aitong markets, greater Mara Ecosystem. The project seeks shadow of the Earth. It's is the constellation of the
delivering powerful anti-poisoning to reduce poison related vulture deaths the longest total lunar Plough. It is a star pattern
messages aimed at discouraging the as a contribution towards the halting and eclipse of the century that looks like its other
public from engaging in retaliatory wildlife long-term reversal of vulture declines in name, the Big Dipper, or
From Kenya, the moon
poisoning. Africa. 4. enters the Earth's outer giant drinking spoon.
The markets were targeted as key
shadow around 8:15 pm. The constellation of Leo
venues for the performances since they
As the moon enters the Lion is setting above
The Nature Kenya Faces the Earth's full shadow the sunset. Its bright star
around 9:25 pm, it begins Regulus appears close to
Edwin Utumbi is a project officer based at to darken and take on a Venus from July 6 to 14.
Dakatcha Woodland Important Bird Area, Kilifi coppery colour. From about The moon is near Regulus
County. Edwin is the link person between 10:30 pm to midnight, the on July 15, near Venus on
Nature Kenya and communities residing in moon will be completely the 16th, near Spica on the
Dakatcha Woodland. He is responsible for in the Earth's shadow. It 19th and near Antares on
community mobilization and awareness may then look red, a 'blood the 23rd. 4
creation for conservation actions as well as moon'. The eclipse ends
facilitating establishment of linkages between around 2:30 am.
the community and the county and national
governments. Edwin also undertakes advocacy
actions at site and county levels. He is involved
in linking up conservation to community
More information on projects
livelihoods to reduce pressure on the forest as the main source of natural resources.
Edwin has previously worked in other project sites namely: the Arabuko Sokoke managed by Nature Kenya in the
Forest, River Sabaki Estuary and Tana River Delta. August issue
Edwin holds Bachelor's degree inTourism and is currently pursuing a Master's
degree in Project Planning and Management. During his spare time Edwin practices
farming and engages in nature adventures.
^ FIELD
JULY AT A GLZMPSZ
Jul 4,h Morning Bird Walk
Jul 7th FoCP Nature Walk
Jul ll1h Morning Bird Walk
Jul 15,h Sunday Bird Watch
Jul 18,h Morning Bird Walk
Jul 21st FoCP Nature Walk
Jul 25"* Morning Bird Walk
Jul 26Th FoNA Public lecture
Bird ringing every Tuesday morning (check with
Ornithology section, National Museums).
For Enquiry & BOOKING Contact Norman on: 0739 200 216
[email protected]
Birders Please Note! The Wednesday Morning Birdwalks
meet at 8:30 am at the Nairobi National Museum. Transport
is on a self-help basis. The group meets in the courtyard
of the Nairobi National Museum, past the entrance to the
galleries. We normally return at about 12:30 pm.
The Sunday Birdwatch on the THIRD Sunday of each month
now also meets at 8:30 am, at the same location. It is a day
trip; please bring water and lunch.
Mombasa Birdwalks On the 3rd Saturday of each month. For meeting
time and place, please contact Taiball Hamsali <thamzali@gmail.
com> / 0733 980540; or Doris Schaule <[email protected]>
/ 0722-277752, Or check Facebook page: <https://www.facebook.
com/groups/FFJmombasa/>
Contact the office for information on other birdwalks in Kakamega,
Kisumu, and other sites
Ngong Forest walks 1st and 3rd Saturday at 9.00 am. Contact
Simon 0729-840715
254 722 782449 [phone]
. V/.VlW/C
/Sa laris [email protected]
www.supremesafarisafrica.com
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For details on associated groups such as Youth Committee, Succulenta, and Friends of Nairobi Arboretum, City Park or Arabuko-Sokoke Forest,
contact [email protected]