Are they here to stay?
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Aug 21 2009 | By: ngongforest
Due to the current drought situations in Kenya, most of protected areas are currently under siege by cattle & livestock bringing in a clear conflict of interest between conservationist and pastoralists.
In Ngong forest, large herds of cattle are continuously witnessed grazing inside and at the edges of the forest
Have a look at this: 
A recent manyatta established in an immediate ground opposite our main gate ( this ground is not part of the forest)
Its business time as they sell the dung to farmers
and whats worse, the family continue to increase, everyday a different group joins them.
If you happen to ask them, they have got permit to temporarily settle there!
how can we help each other? though we have a controlled grazing system , the current herd is unsustainable , what about the drought?
At least one thing we are sure of, by conserving our forest will have a better effect not only now but also to our upcoming generation.
Do not forget to join us by donating to-wards protection of this adorable forest resource.
by:
Ranger George Thuo
Email: georgethuo94@yahoo.com
HAND SAW, SILENTLY DEPLETING NGONG SANCTUARY OF SILVER OAK
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Aug 12 2009 | By: ngongforest
I spent most of the Saturday morning hours in a forest walk with two visitors, Andrew and Njoroge. As usual we started at main gate and progressed slowly into the forest, ranger Akach accompanied us, he helped me to answer various questions and inquiries from the visitors. They were amazed that right in the city, such indigenous natural forest existed. “Well, this is a very refreshing atmosphere and you guys are very lucky to work here” Andrew one of the visitors said, as he continued to read bible verses written on a huge fig tree along the trail.
We discussed various environmental issues and they wondered why so much about Kenyan forests is on debate in parliament especially Mau complex in the Rift Valley province, while nothing has been said about the Ngong Forest which is within Nairobi and provides a clears example of the depleting state of Kenyan forests . They noted that the number of silver oak stumps increased as we moved deep into the forest. We had a difficult time to explain the relationship of the Kibera slum (one of the biggest slum in Africa and immediately borders the forest) and the increasing number of tree cuts. The high population, poverty and ignorance of the importance of forests among some of the slum residents have been the main challenges in conserving the sanctuary forest. Many of the resident views the forest as their only source of livelihood, not even the electric fence could deter them. They dig under it and sometime cut wires to gain access to the forest.
As part of sustainable utilization and benefit sharing, the local communities who have joined hands to conserve Ngong forest are issued with permits to collect dry fire wood. However intruders sneak into the forest targeting indigenous hard wood trees especially the silver oak.
As I was explaining to them how we have managed to tackle some challenges like land grabbing and dumping, we noticed about six men, we laid ambush but unfortunately they noticed us. However, we managed to recover three hand saws.
The visitors congratulated our effort in protecting the forest as we walked back to main gate.
Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary commonly referred to as Nairobi’s carbon sink is protected through kind donations from well wishers and friends. Kindly join us by donating towards the protection of this unique forest resource.
Story by ranger Joseph Karanja
Email: jranjus@yahoo.com
Recovery of Poached Tree
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Aug 03 2009 | By: ngongforest
Walking through the forest you will hardly fail to notice old or even fresh tree stumps , at first you will tend to think the trees were cut using a power saw, but this is not the case, poachers are smart, and they will usually employ a device that will produce little or no sound that can alert rangers, mostly a hand saw. Silver oak (Brachylaena huillensis)among other trees is most on high demand due its quality wood that carves and polishes well,strong,durable and resistant to termite .This species takes ages to mature, roughly up-to 70 years
Recently rangers recovered 28 pieces of silver oak logs. When arrested, loggers are penalized either by paying a fine or jailed for 6 months, most of this offender after release find their way to commit the same crime .
Recovered logs
Currently, logging is on rise, with the opening of the Nairobi Southern By pass which cut across the forest making it the forest vulnerable and ease accessibility.
Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary commonly referred to as Nairobi’s Carbon Sink is protected through kind donation from well wishers and friends of the forest. Kindly join us by donating to-wards the protection of this unique forest resource.
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