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: 
Donations made here are
One Comment
I am an ardent lover of wild tree shrubs and the silver oaks are my most valued trees –for their aesthetic beauty to their utility at maturity . I currently have over 100 of them ; some in my farm on the slopes of Mt Kenya and here in Ngong .
I would wish to plant sandal wood too on 0.5 acre of my land . I would also wish to assist with replenishing the silver oak trees in your sanctuary . How can we cooperate along these two interests which I do not find to be diverse ?