Mountain Dispatches – News from Mount Kenya Trust

The African Conservation Community Forum 2023 convened in Naivasha, Kenya from September 25th to 29th. The event saw a gathering of over 90 partners and organizations hailing from diverse corners of the continent. Maliasili took the lead in hosting and facilitating this significant event with the help and support of generous allies and partners.

This forum provided a pivotal opportunity to unite in the collective mission of safeguarding Africa’s distinctive biodiversity, preserving critical ecosystems, and advancing sustainable development across the region.

The discussions held during this impactful event delved deeply into the themes of collective empowerment and shared purpose, aimed at instigating transformative shifts within existing systems. Over the course of four days, attendees engaged in valuable networking, exchanged crucial knowledge, honed their skills, gained a broader global perspective, and maintained an unwavering focus on the central role of local communities.

The African Community Conservation Forum has provided a cornerstone for the ongoing efforts to champion community led conservation practice and leadership in Africa.

Dust off those bikes, grease those chains and get your training schedule started as we gear up for the 2024 edition of the wildly popular 10to4 Mountain Bike Challenge again next year. We can’t wait to welcome you into our mountain world and raise critical funds for Mt Kenya conservation and community projects.

If you enjoy the 10to4 Mountain Bike Challenge, why not consider sponsoring the event this year? There are lots of different options to sponsor, from a water stop to bronze, silver, gold and title sponsorship of our thrilling children’s event. There are so many reasons to support the weekend including:

1. Corporate Social Responsibility Impact Show that you are working with the communities of Kenya. All proceeds go to the Mount Kenya Trust who support the people, forest, wildlife and water on Africa’s second highest mountain.

2. Great PR! Social Media Promotions & Stories We will give you stories and media to promote how you are helping Kenya through your partnership with the 10to4.

3. Advertisement & Branding (Three-Day Race Event) Branding on event merchandise including t-shirts, goodie bags, banners, event programme, prize giving, website and social media.

The 10to4 is the largest cycling event in Kenya and includes:- Three day event, consisting of 6 mountain bike races for all abilities and a horse riding safari.
– 400+ participants take part from all over the world (including, South Africa, Britain, Germany, USA, Tanzania).
– The Classic ride, which has become synonymous with the 10to4, starts at 10,000 feet dropping to 4,000 feet through Mount Kenya National Park, Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve, Borana Conservancy and a range of private land and farms.
– Featured in regional and national media.
– Ridden by Kenya’s elite cyclists including David Kinjah (mentor to Chris Froome) and the Safari Simbaz.

The teams conducted 386 foot, vehicle and horse patrols over the past quarter, with an additional 32 moblie camping patrols targeting areas of illegal logging of charcoal burning hotspots in the Magutuni in Tharaka Nithi county and Sirimon areas of Meru County. The teams assigned to these areas for at least 14 days. A few wildfires were also reporting during this period in Lower Imenti.

Over 135 snares of various types were removed (cable, string, wire and cutting tools) and 263 people were found inside the forest Reserve without authorization. Almost 1500 domestic animals were also discovered inside the protected area. The teams have been utilizing their informants in other ways of curbing illegal activities and most of the informants have been rewarded with either raincoat, gum boots or mobile phones.

Nearly 90 charcoal kilns were destroyed with particular concentrations in KWS Sirimon in Gatinga Maguntuni and Kithithina areas. Selective logging for timber, fenceposts and timber pieces were also numerous, with camphor tree species is still preferred species for timer while redcedar was dominant during fence posts illegal logging intrusions. Over 100 firewood bundles were also recorded.

A total of twelve arrests were made during this quarter for majorly two types of offences including illegal logging and being in possession of bushmeat. A total of 10 suspects were arrested for illegal logging while two suspects were arrested for bushmeat. All the suspects were arraigned in court of law and have been charged.

The Marania Wildlife Guards recently participated in the 3rd Wildlife Ranger Challenge, organised and supported by Tusk Trust and their generous partners, uniting rangers across Africa to raise awareness about the important work they do and to raise funds to improve the working conditions of Rangers who are dedicated to protecting our remaining protected habitats and wildlife in harsh terrain with restricted resources.

The results speak volumes about the teams’ commitment and the support they received through during the three-month campaign.  Our team’s physical prowess was evident as they completed 230 sit-ups and 337 push-ups during the challenge, demonstrating their remarkable stamina. Their knowledge and dedication to wildlife conservation were underscored by an 87% score in the quiz segment. The ultimate challenge was a 21 km run, carrying a 22kg backpack, which they completed in 3 hours and 27 minutes.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who supported and donated to the Marania Wildlife Guards. Your contributions directly impact ranger welfare and conservation efforts. Special recognition goes to David Mwiraria, Joseph Mwichugu, Kenneth Mwenda, and Josephat Magana for their outstanding representation. A noteworthy highlight was the visit of Alexander Dreymon, a Tusk Donor, who learned about our horse patrols, a crucial part of our conservation strategy.

As we celebrate these achievements, we acknowledge supporters like you play a vital role in preserving Africa’s biodiversity. Together, we can ensure a future where wildlife thrives and conservation remains a shared responsibility.

Mount Kenya Trust held a passing out ceremony of six Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) for the level of Corporal and Sergeant following an rigorous training course. The men are our field team leaders who will now be recognized as ranked officers, nationally and internationally. The intensive course put the men through their paces to teach, test and examine their skills including land navigation, drills, physical training, wildlife education, the Wildlife Act, Crime Scene Investigation, radio communication, Earth Ranger System, leadership skills and human-wildlife conflict mitigation.

The Trust, the Community Forest Associations and officers from KWS and KFS have long recognized these men as very experienced rangers and team leaders; however due to constraints much of their certified training has been ad-hoc when funding and support is available. The move to put the men through the paces of many of the skills they have some level of certification for, and experience with, honours their true position in the eyes of the Government agencies and their ranks in the eyes of the Government rangers and police they work with on a regular basis. This recognition will assist on every level of their morale and work capacity including working with officers they work with rarely (who misunderstand their level of experience) to how they are perceived when giving evidence in court.

This was a programme that was initiated through the KWS Mt Kenya Assistant Director, Bw Jillo and the KWS trainers, our Patrol Teams Senior Manager Enock Ochieng and our Executive Director Susie Weeks. The training and passing-out ceremony were held at KWS Mount Kenya National Park HQ, Naro Moru.

Above: The graduation ceremony held at Mt Kenya KWS HQ.

• Interact and train 48 Teleswani Water Rescource User Association members on riparian issues this included the Mt Kenya ecosystem riparian areas’ importance, challenges, mitigation measures, laws, and policies. This was followed by open forum matters arising including water shortage within the river, water obstruction, and tree planting in these areas.
• A local water based meeting by Ontulili Association with other partners like Water Resource Association, County Government, borehole drillers and various water self help groups. They were highlighting on infrastructure, health, youth empowerment, education and environment where we informed on riparian restoration, sensitisation, water harvesting and installation.
• The team were also out and about on riparian land sensitization, educating and training WRUA members from Lower Teleswani, Ontulili and Sirimon River. Over 100 WRUA members were sensitized with information on riparian issues ranging from land use practices, laws, Conservation Agriculture, restoration, importance and challenges within the river zone and mitigation measures to protect soil and water resources.
• Two riparian patrols also took place as part of the work, with an education officer, the MKT rangers and WRUA members. The sessions included education of the landowners, farmers and tenants within the riparian area. Combing the patrols and sensitization sessions means that the community can see clearly the impacts of bad practice within the riparian area, and link the importance of conserving this essential zones for water capture.
• Installation of a water harvesting system in Mia Moja and Sirimon Schools

The CHSP highlights significant impact of our project on family planning, adolescent sexual reproductive health, and community engagement in various counties. We continue to strive for positive change and empowerment in the regions we serve. Activities over the last quarter include:

1. Outreach in South Imenti and Kibirichia, Meru County (3+2 days): Focusing on community engagement as schools were closed.
2. Community Dialogue Meetings (August 14th and 18th):
3. Engaged Nyumba Kumi leaders, boda-boda sector, administration, and church leaders to address adolescent and youth issues in Amwathi areas, known for high teenage pregnancies.
4. Agribusiness Expo (August 24th and 25th): Collaborated with Agreal Africa and Beyond Zero Campaign at Kibirichia Stadium grounds
5. ASRHR Education in Schools (5 schools).
6. Tree Seedling Donation (2,800 indigenous seedlings): Contributed to establishing woodlots in 7 schools, with plans to donate 1,060 seedlings to 3 more schools.
7. Community Dialogue in Kiani Location: Addressed parental responsibilities and child neglect issues. Planned sessions with parents and students upon school closure.
8. Healthcare Provider Training: Supported training of 20 healthcare providers on adolescent sexual reproductive health and family planning in Meru County.
9. World Contraception Day (September 26th): Joined Embu County’s Ministry of Health to commemorate the day. Supported the launch of the Midwives Association of Kenya Embu branch. Facilitated 2 nurses’ attendance at a midwife’s association conference in Mombasa.
10. Sexual Reproductive Health Services (September 29th and 30th): Conducted two-day services targeting adolescents and teenagers in Mikinduri level four.
11. Knowledge and Attitude Surveys: Collected filled KAP surveys to assess changes in knowledge and attitudes in 6 schools as part of the pilot project.
12. Reusable Sanitary Production: Obtained a space from the Ministry of Health in North Imenti to produce reusable pads. Planned empowerment of a group of women and training for 20 community members from two self-groups on production.
13. ASRH Sessions in Schools: Conducted 9 ASRH sessions in different schools, reinforcing previous year’s topics, and demonstrating a positive impact on students.
14. Comprehensive Outreach at Kunati Health Centre (July 21st)

Along with partners KWS, KFS and Rhino Ark, MKT are working alongside The Nature Conservancy to investigate the potential of a carbon credit project on Mt Kenya and the Aberdares ecosystems. This is a comprehensive and wide-scale project that is now interwoven into the Climate Change Amendment Act 2023, and the National Governments Commitments for decarbonisation. The group is formally recognised as the Mt Kenya REDD+ Landscape Joint Implementation Committee, and with funding support from TNC African Carbon Catalyst Fund, the team are currently reviewing­­ the carbon accounting, governance structures and boundaries of the project.

Mugumo Regenerative Conservation Agriculture Demo Plot

The conservation agriculture plot was started as one of the one of the mitigation measures of the challenges identified, during the riparian survey on the five rivers on the western side of Mt Kenya.

It was noted that one of the reasons why the water flow among these rivers is drastically reduced is caused by poor farming practices and overabstraction where huge amounts of water is used in unsustainable agricultural practices. This takes close to 80% of the water leaving the rest 20% for the middle and the lower communities downstream, which is unsustainable for their domestic use, their livestock, and the wildlife in the conservancies around.

The demo plot was established as a learning center for all communities across the board, from the upper zone where huge amount of water is abstracted from the available water (and not utilized properly) leaving little amount for the other lives downstream and the natural follow.

During the training session on the 13th September, Conservation Agriculture (CA) was taught, the pillars are permanent soil cover, minimal soil disturbance and crops/ crops association. The principals help in soil water conservation, restoring the soil fertility, reducing pest infestation, and minimizing cost of production.

Conservation Agriculture reduces the production cost (in terms of the amount of pesticides,fertiliser and fuel used) as the frequency of irrigation is reduced by around 60% and the cost of weeding is also reduced by 70%. This has been made possible by sustained mulching.

As the farmers toured the plot, they were shown the diversity of crops planted like maize, beans cabbages, onions, spinach, potatoes, leeks amongst other crops. These crops were planted even during the dry period of the year as the covered soil had enough moisture for planting.

The group were also prepared for the forcast El Nino, and advised how to prevent soil erosion and crop variety choice for heavy rainfall.

Finally, we had a session on saving and borrowing done by the EMU SACCO where farmers are encouraged to develop the culture of saving to support the Conservation Agriculture initiative as the initial cost is high. In case the funds are not enough the EMU will provide credit to farmers at a very competitive interest rate.

The biggest challenge at the farm plot is the crops damage by elephants, baboon, and buffalo but we plan to extend the beehive fence by another 300 meters to have a larger coverage of the farms around.

The second challenge is the farmers adapting conservation agriculture from their overtaken cultural farming practices. This will be achieved by holding more open days, sharing experiences with farmers who will have practiced CA and organizing field visits.

Many thanks to Marilène Blain-Sabourin for volunteering with us and taking incredible
images for Mount Kenya Trust during this period!