Mount Elgon indigenous forest restoration

ABOUT KCLUA

KIMILILI COMMUNITY LAND USERS’ ASSOCIATION(KCLUA)

Ø Is a voluntary non- profit non- partisan civil society organization duly established and is operating in accordance with the constitution of Kenya

Ø Kimilili community land users’ association is registered as a CBO with its area of operation in Bungoma and Trans-Zoia counties and extends to the entire Mount Elgon Ecosystem which is significant transboundary Ecosystem between Kenya and Uganda and Borders Bungoma and Tran- zoia counties in Kenya

Background

Ø Kclua was established in 2011 as a result of Land conflict and degradation through fragmentation around Mount Elgon that was posing a threat to biodiversity conservation, heritage and economy hence the need for landscape restoration.

Ø Few individuals though it wise to harmonize the issues through forming a group to intervene against above challenges.

 VISION

Ø A community that sustainably uses, protects and equitably benefits from Land and Natural resources

MISSION

Ø To empower communities within Mount Elgon region, Bungoma and Trans -zoia countries through lawful, inclusive, participatory land governance, environmental protection, Advocacy, capacity building and Equitable Land and Natural Resources management.

CORE VALUES

Ø Respect for culture and heritage

Ø Integrity and Ethical leadership

Ø Transparency and Accountability

Ø Inclusivity Equity and Non discrimination

Ø Environmental stewardship and Sustainability

Ø Community empowerment and participation

The Six Operational Pillars of Kclua

1.Sustainable land management and nature sensitive land use practices among community members and private land owners (Attach back photo)

2.Peaceful resolution of disputes arising from land and Natural resource, especially dialogue and lawful mechanisms (Attach Back Photo)

3.Conservation of sites and species, through ecosystems restoration, reforestation and by extension protection of threatened and endangered species

4.Climate change impacts, response through mitigation and adaptation

5.Protection of Nature, culture and indigenous knowledge and how they impact economy

6.Community participation, youth and women inclusion, equity and justice, institutional partnerships

 Group Activities and Programs (What we do)

1.Community sensitization and awareness programmes

-Through community meetings, cultural ceremonies, churches, farmer training programs, Kclua has so far reached out to 1675 farmers and community members with the message of sustainable land management, Ecosystem’s protection, protection of nature and indigenous knowledge out of the 10,000 community and farmer members targeted in the next 5 Years 70% of which must be youth and women

2.Environmental Education and participatory learning

-Kclua believes in immense potential of the young generation (Youth and children), hence conducts education and awareness in schools through environmental clubs using youth volunteers. This is a project that is still developing and is advancing a philosophy of mentoring children to understand their immediate environment, ecosystem hence ecoregions to become future responsible stewards

  a) Adopt a tree a child a school-To restore a total of 15 ha with indigenous trees in public lands and institutions targeting 21,000 children in 30 schools around Mount Elgon.This programme has conducted awareness in schools where every child in every school is encouraged to plant and care for a tree to maturityb) Developing simplified biodiversity study guide-Guiding children through their immediate biodiversity, what exists, what is threatened! the group is at the initial stages of developing the book to help children understand their environment this will be done in collaboration with partners like KWS, KFS, KEFRI

3.Afforestation, Reforestation with Native trees

-Kclua believes that human health and income is directly dependent on the the health of ecosystem around him, however interventions that have so far been done a round Kenya and Mount Elgon have exhibited a number of limitations and gaps which Kclua is making efforts to bridge in its unique strategy.

-Kclua seeks to restore degraded ecosystems a round Mount Elgon through Afforestation and Reforestations using indigenous trees to maintain the original ecology of the already degraded Nature reserves

-Kclua has so far restored a total of 5ha within public institutions out of the targeted 15 ha in the next 3 years

-2 Hectares of land already earmarked for purchase and eventualy for perpetual restoration with indiginious trees

-Additional 7.2 Hectare of land earmarked through lease for restoration and eventually perpetual protection through appropriate and sustainable arrangements.

-6 Hectares already earmarked for acquisition through ecosystem easement and eventually restoration including protection of community cultural sites as heritage

-Degraded forest buffer zones previously under PELIS earmarked for aquisition through lease and other effective area- based conservation measures (OECM),

4.Private protected areas (PPAs) enhancement

-60% of wildlife within Kenya exists within privately owned lands, success in conservation of biodiversity and protection of endangered species relies on how best we engage and involve private land owners hence the PPA concept.

-Plots of land are either acquired from private land owners through purchase, lease or other effective area-based conservation measures (OECM) and are given perpetual protection through incentives from acquired income ie ecotourism and other nature based enterprises ie beekeeping and crafts.

-Private land owners under program are given mentorship on indigenous knowledge, establishment of Nature trails, Botanical gardens, crafts, ecotourism, beekeeping, medicinal plants which all helps them to earn income through value addition without interfering with ecology of the ecosystem

5. Value addition of Nature based products, beekeeping, ecotourism, fruit farming, Bamboo crafts for income and sustainability of PPAs.

Targets and achievements so far

Success area

Target (Next five years) and achievements soo far

School pupils

Target 21000

Achieved 1500

Schools

Target 30

Achieved 3

Farmers/community members outreach

Target 10,000

Achieved 1675

Hectares of land under restoration

Target 27

Achieved 5

Tree nursery capacity in seedling production

Target 5 million Seedlings

Achieved 1.4 million Seedlings

 CONTEX

· Mount Elgon National Park is located about 140 km North of Lake Victoria straddling the border between Kenya and Uganda, encompassing an area of 4000 Km square, Altitude ranges from 1750 to 4300 meters above sea level.

· Its precise coordinates are1°00'36.0" N latitude and 34°37'48.0" E longitude, placing it in a region that experiences a variety of climatic and Ecological conditions

· The mountain is home to numerous rare, endangered, or endemic plants such as Carex elgonensis, Dendrosenecio elgonensis, and Aloe elgonica. The ongoing discovery of new species, like Peponium elgonense, the Mountain is a sanctuary for various wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and several primate species. Notably, it supports bird species like Sharpe’s Longclaw and Elgon Francolin, and reptiles like the Mt. Elgon Forest Gecko and Du Toit's Torrent Frog, many of which are listed as endangered or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This highlights the area's critical role in the survival of these species.

· Its importance is drawn from the fact that it’s a Man and Biosphere Reserve, UNESCO world heritage site, key water tower in Kenya serving entirely western Kenya hence plays significant role in sustaining hydrological cycles, sustaining Lake Victoria, River Nile in Uganda and other water bodies including River Nzoia which drains in Lake Victoria

Challenges Facing the Ecosystem

· Massive over harvesting of indigenous and planted trees and introduction of exotic species interfering with the Biospheres Ecology.

· Land fragmentation from ecosystem encroachment by Sabaot community and others, this has affected wildlife migration

· Biodiversity loss from poaching and habitat clearing affecting tourism

· Loosing soils which are washed by the rivers from the Mountain hence to Lake Victoria (Getting serious siltation and pollution), this affects food security (the ecosystem is bordered by Trans-zoia county in Kenya which is a food basket)

· Loss of cultural values like indigenous Knowledge and Native farming to commercial sugarcane farming.

· Climate change impacts like floods down streams, this affects food security hence poverty.

CURRENT NEEDS AND PROBLEMS WITHIN MT ELGON

Problem identified by the project

· There is declining population of already Endangered and critically endangered biodiversity as a result of habitat loss and land fragmentation within Mount Elgon Nature reserves.

Proposed intervention Measures

· Establishment of Private protected areas within privately owned lands through land purchase or lease under MOUs involving land owners

· Creating more buffer zones around the nature reserve to counter habitat loss through encroachment

· Restore and secure areas that create landscape level connectivity by use of corridors and stepping stone habitats especially targeting riparian and riverine stretches to Kakamega forest ecosystem

· Restoring significant population of endangered plant and tree species mostly endemic trees within Mount Elgon Nature reserve ie by raising indigenous tree seedlings and re introducing back to the ecosystem through reforestation

· Restoring the population of endemic animal biodiversity within the nature reserve through improvement of habitat health.

· Promotion of purely Nature based enterprises within the private protected area patches to maintain ecological and native integrity

Proposed intervention Areas

· Establishment of indigenous tree and bamboo nurseries

· Botanical gardens and forest gardens with native and fruit trees within privately protected area patches (PPAs) with demonstrable clean spring water or river water protected

· Establishment of patches of purely indigenous trees within forest bu

· Promotion of Bee keeping, Ecotourism (Home stays concept), native bamboo and fruit farming targeting value addition within PPAs

· Training of PPAs land owners on indigenous knowledge as a foundation for Native conservation

Proposed projects within next 5 years

· More than 60% of Kenya’s Biodiversity live within privately owned lands, this means embracing the concept of PPAs is an effective way of protecting the 60% under threat, will help to reverse biodiversity loss through land fragmentation

· PPAs concept trial in Kenya through this project will be a milestone in enhancing policy for protection of wildlife outside protected areas, protection of wildlife corridors

· The project key target is the indigenous people ie the ogiek and Sabaot which are also inhabitants of Mount Elgon Nature Reserve which makes the ecosystem unique as world heritage site

· The project targets one of most unique ecosystems in Africa connecting conservation of many regions including the large forests and Lakes and Rivers of Africa (Biosphere Reserve)

· The project is very unique in the sense that it proposes new concepts that are effective in Restoring ecological balance of ecosystems ie Botanical gardens, indigenous Forest gardens, Native Fruit gardens, Home stays concept as emerging form of Ecotourism

· The project seeks to address current challenges facing youth and women through participation, inclusion, economic empowerment and employments as tour guides, Value addition of Bee and fruit products

Proposed Project goals and Objectives

· Supports the establishment of indigenous tree, Bamboo nurseries, Botanical gardens, Native Forest gardens with Native fruit trees as well as within established private protected area PPAs to restore the reserve ecology

· Promote indigenous Knowledge through on the site training of private land owners on the above Native conservation concepts

· Establish indigenous forest buffers at very close range to the main forests to reduce pressure on the core Elgon ecosystem and provide primary migratory routes

· Promote the establishment and investment in purely nature-based enterprises ie Beekeeping, Bamboo farming, Ecotourism through Homestays concept with traditional cottage industry and related value addition to provide income and employment for youth and women

Contact for group

Email:kcluarestore@gmail.com

           nyawasamoses@gmail.com