| How Karura Forest cleans Nairobi's air |
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KenyaKidz Action Crew will this Saturday be cleaning up at Karura Forest in Nairobi, one of the few Kenyan forests never lost to farming and development, and especially important to the city as a water source, mammoth-sized air cleaner, and as an open-air space for jogging, cycling and walking. Gazetted in 1932 as a government forest, the forest covers 1041.3ha and contains indigenous and exotic trees. The forest was previously bigger, but land was given out by the government, for the construction of various buildings, including UNEP, National Youth Service(NYS), National Security Intelligence Service(NSIS),and CID(Criminal Investigative Department) headquarters. Further development was set for the forest in the 1990s, but caused public protests, led by environmental activists, among them Prof Wangari Maathai, who protested, and embarked on a re-forestation mission. Wangari Maathai is the first African woman and the first environmentalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to her in 2004, for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace. The forest is now part-natural and part-plantation. The natural forest covers 759.6 hectares, with over 20 local tree species, including the Alia Africana, Croton megalocarpus, Neutonia buchanani, Makamia otea, podo and cedar. The plantation forest covers the remaining 281.7 hectares, with some 15 species of exotic trees, including the cypress, grevillia Robusta, araucaria, casuarinas, jacaranda and eucalyptus. Beyond its range of trees, the Karura forest is of great importance ecologically, economically and culturally. The forest has cultural importance too. Within the forest are ancient caves where the Mau Mau fighters used to hide during the colonial era. The Mau Mau was a movement among the Gikuyu community, formed in the 1950s to fight against British rule and European settlers. The caves are now used by churches and other people for fasting and praying. Economically, the forest generates some revenue as a tourist attraction, because of its unique trees, and now provides nature trails for residents to jog, cycle or stroll, as well as pathways to explore the three rivers and caves when accompanied by rangers from the Kenya Forestry Service. The forest is also good for bird watching, and home to animals including antelopes and monkeys. Near the caves stands a huge tree - Craibea brownii - commonly known as ‘father of trees’ as it is the oldest in the forest, estimated to be two centuries old. Illegal cutting of trees is another problem. Karura forest is not far from slums, such Mathare and Huruma, whose residents rely on tree for firewood, timber and poles for building. To protect the forest, a number of volunteers around the forest have formed a community forest association known as Friends of Karura Forest, to help put in place measures that will ensure its conservation. The association plans to bring in resources to help fence the forest using an electric fence and gates. Members of the public can also help in the conservation of the forest through contributions or by helping in the various re-afforestation initiatives, in the parts of the plantation forest currently bush covered by latana camara plant, as well as in clean-up programmes. Written by Rose Muragu for African Laughter |
to book appointments to visit. I would like to go on sunday.