This archive report was first published on 27 September 2019.
Kenya's Mau Forest: A Tale of Devastation and Hope ¶
On one hand, the Mau Forest Complex in Kenya is home to some of the most conserved forests, evoking a sense of serenity and peace. On the other hand, parts of the forest have been so depleted that they are barely recognizable, with tree stumps sticking out of the ground for kilometers.
As we drove back to Nairobi after a one-week tour of the region, the question of conservation occupied our minds. How can a plunder so systematic and devastating be reversed? The October 19, 2001 excision, which saw 61,586.5 hectares of virgin forest go in one fell swoop, is a prime example of the destruction that has taken place.
According to a report from 10 years ago, Rehabilitation of the Mau Forest Ecosystem, it was only a matter of time before the entire ecosystem was irreversibly damaged with significant socio-economic consequences to the country and the region.
River flow regulation, water storage, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and microclimate regulation are just some of the benefits of the country's largest water tower. However, the destruction of the Mau Forest Complex has reduced its power to blunt the impact of climate change.
Reclaiming the Mau Forest ¶
Experts believe that removing exotic species in the wetlands and catchment areas can help restore the water table, leading to normal recharge of rivers and an increase in water levels. The community will benefit from the ecosystem's self-regeneration, says Mr. Joseph Towett, an advocate of the rights of the Ogiek, a forest-dwelling community dispossessed by the degradation.
Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto believes that bamboo holds the key to the reclamation of Mau. Bamboo is a grass that grows three times faster than eucalyptus, reaching maturity in three years. It is also a self-regenerating tree with new branches shooting up annually and can be harvested after every two years for up to 40 years.
"These folks (settlers) can live in half acres and create a new bamboo economy," Mr. Ruto says. "I remember we had initiated talks at that time with my technocrats, then led by then Permanent Secretary Francis Muthaura, and there were corporations from Malaysia and other Asian tigers that were ready to work with us."
