Nyekweri Forest
A life-sustaining source and refuge
Conserving the last remaining indigenous forest within Kenya
Situated adjacent to the Masai Mara National Reserve in south-west Kenya, the Nyekweri Forest is a precious resource. In addition to its ecological and biodiversity value, the forest is a refuge for endangered wildlife. This includes the giant ground pangolin and regional elephant, who are known to choose the forest as a safe place to give birth. However, in the last 20 years, over 50% of the forest has been cleared due to population growth, agricultural conversion, and rampant charcoal production.
Community collaboration will be a cornerstone of this project, and we will be working in partnership with the Nyekweri Kimentet Community Forest Conservation Trust: 26 community land owners, committed to the conservation of Nyekweri Forest.
Project wins & focus
Indigenous tree nursery in progress at site donated by community
Community & Conservation rangers from local villages employed
‘ECHO’ Environmental education lessons with school children
Community Trust partnership supports sustainable solutions
Progress markers
Indigenous tree nursery
- The site for this nursery was donated by the Nyekweri Kimentet Community Forest Conservation Trust
- Saplings are harvested from the forest, and nurtured using protective tubing
- Once established, these young trees will be used by community members to restore cleared forest sections on their land
Community & Conservation rangers
- Three Community & Conservation rangers from the local community are now employed, and will work under the mentorship of Simon Saitoti, Africa Foundation’s Regional Programme Officer, Kenya
- They will establish and develop the new tree nursery
- Environmental education will be a key focus
- Together with WWF-Kenya rangers on the ground, they will support the monitoring of human activity in the forest
ECHO Environmental Education lessons
- Using Africa Foundation’s interactive ECHO Environmental Education programme, and complemented by guided game drives, our C & C rangers will actively engage with young learners on forest-themed content
- The whole concept of restoring Nyekweri Forest is a current topic at all local schools, and school projects include the recycling of plastic waste to grow young saplings, which in time to come, will be grown within fenced school environments like Saparingo Primary School
Community Trust partnership
- Africa Foundation is working in partnership with the Nyekweri Kimentet Community Forest Conservation Trust, which includes 26 titled community landowners
- The Trust is leading a growing movement within the community, catalysed by WWF-Kenya and the Kenya Department of Forestry, to stop the destruction of the forest
- Other key focus areas include the restoration of degraded areas together with finding innovative solutions to the human-elephant (and other wildlife) conflict issues
- The Trust is in discussion with the Masai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association with regards to new initiatives, incentivising landowners not to clear forest sections, erect fences, or convert their land for farming purposes
Simon Saitoti
A modern Maasai preserving the Mara
Land demarcation has resulted in dramatic changes to the Maasai pastoral lifestyle, resulting in an increased dependency on local resources, like Nyekweri Forest.
Africa Foundation’s Regional Programme Officer in Kenya, Simon Saitoti, brings an intimate and compelling perspective to these challenges.
Project's broad objectives
Employ three Community & Conservation rangers from local community
Establish and develop an indigenous tree nursery at community school in collaboration with scholars and teachers
Generate 20 000 seedlings per year for forest restoration to restore forest areas cleared for charcoal production
Expand ECHO Conservation lessons programme to include specific project content
Set up trail cameras in the forest to monitor the movement of elephant and other priority species
Conduct biodiversity surveys, led by Kenya specialists, to determine full understanding of forest fauna and flora
Project Budget
USD
26 013,92
GBP
23 047,77
ZAR
448 752,38
Community Context
Situated adjacent to the Masai Mara National Reserve in south-west Kenya, the Nyekweri Forest is a precious resource. In addition to its ecological and biodiversity value, the forest is a refuge for endangered wildlife. This includes the giant ground pangolin and regional elephant, who are known to choose the forest as a safe place to give birth.
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