Samburu's Kirisia forest to be model of excellence

The Kenya Forest Service has launched an ambitious plan to make Kirisia forest in Samburu a centre of excellence.

The forest had been given a lifeline after more than 500 settlers who had encroached voluntarily left the land on December 30, 2019.

They couldn't find water or pasture for their livestock and decided to leave.

Out of the entire  225,982 acres, the illegal settlers had encroached on 74,131. acres.

The government provided the settlers with lorries to ferry their property.

KFS Chief Conservator Julius Kamau said there area lot is lined up for Kirisia forest.

“We and our partners have many activities planned for Kirisia forest," Kamau said.

They have organised income-generating activities, including beekeeping for community forest associations and nature trails, among others.

Kamau also said the forest is ideal for a premier wildlife lodge as elephants and other animals that used to roam there have come back.

Kamau said the conservation efforts in Kirisia forest are exhibited through the increase of water levels from the forest catchment areas as well as the return of wildlife in previously degraded areas.

The service is in the process of acquiring two drones for surveillance.

“They will be used to detect illegal activities, such as tree felling and charcoal burning, as well as fires,” Kamau said.

The chief conservator said the resources to spruce up the forest are from the Global Environment Facility and are being sourced through FAO.

On September 26, FAO donated Sh2.5 million firefighting equipment, among other efforts to restoring the 225,982 acres.

The consignment includes safety vests, helmets, gloves, fire beaters, boots, water hydration packs, overalls, multifunctional wildlife tools, pick axes and knapsack sprayers.

The donation helps to strengthen the organizational capacity of the local community forest association and KFS in Kirisia to implement a restoration drive.

FAO deputy country representative Hamisi Williams oversaw the handing over if equipment at KFS headquarters in Karura.

The CCF said the service has committed to delivering organisational capacity and participatory forest management plans, ecosystem restoration strategy, restoration of the forest resource, tree planting and monitoring, among others.

Kamau said as one way of ensuring settlers to not return to the forest, KFS and partners have, through community forest associations, provided alternative livelihoods.

He said the donation of Sh2.5 million fire fighting equipment will build KFS's capacity. 

Williams said the funds from Global Environment Facility were used to procure the equipment.

He said two watch towers had been constructed for Sh4.8 million and two outposts for another Sh4.5 million.

Concerted efforts are needed to fight climate change, he said.

The donations come at a time when UNEP said wildfires will become more intense and frequent, ravaging communities and ecosystems. 

Climate change and land use change could lead to a sharp rise of fires by up to 50 per cent by the next century. And governments are not prepared.

This is according to the report, 'Spreading like Wildfire: The Rising Threat of Extraordinary Landscape Fires'.