ISSN 2073-5111(Print)
nature net naturekenya.org
April 2017
Partnership for sustainable restoration of Mt. Kenya forest
(From left) Conservation Secretary Gideon Gathaara, Environment Cabinet Secretary Prof. Judi Wakhungu, Nature Kenya Executie Director Dr. Paul Matiku and Kenya Breweries Finance Director Kinya Kamotho during the presentation of a Ksh 8 million cheque from Kenya Breweries Ltd to Nature Kenya for restoration of Mt. Kenya forest. PHOTO: J. MWACHARO
The presentation of the cheque was made during a breakfast meeting convened by Nature Kenya to discuss Mt. Kenya restoration. Prof. Judy Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources was the chief guest at the meeting with participants drawn from the public and private sectors. Acknowledging the initiative by Nature Kenya, Prof. Wakhungu urged the private sector to play a leading role in the restoration of Mt. Kenya forest by allocating more recourses for conservation. The Mt. Kenya and upper Tana ecosystem is the most productive basin for agriculture in Kenya. It provides water to key national parks, generates half of the country’s total hydropower, and supplies 95% of Nairobi’s water. Mt. Kenya is also recognised as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) and as such is part of the “Kenyan Mountains Endemic Bird Area (EBA)”. continued pg. 2
By J. Mwacharo
O
ngoing efforts to conserve Mt. Kenya ecosystem got a Ksh. 8 million boost from Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) geared towards rehabilitating degraded forest areas. The funds, part of a public – private sector partnership to sustainably restore Mt. Kenya forest, will see KBL support the planting of 100,000 indigenous trees in the forest by the local site support group. The public – private sector partnership for sustainable water flows from Mt. Kenya forest is a Nature Kenya initiative that seeks strategic commitment and support from the business sector to enhance quantity and quality water flowing from Mt. Kenya. The initiative targets to raise Ksh. 140 million annually to plant
2 million trees to restore 2,000 Ha of Mt. Kenya and upper Tana catchment landscapes while keeping clean water flowing for access and use by downstream users and ecology. Speaking when presenting the Ksh. 8 million cheque to Nature Kenya, KBL Finance Director, Ms. Kinya Kimotho said the company was committed to conserving the Mt. Kenya forest, terming it as a key pillars to Kenya’s economic development. “Today’s partnership is in line with our sustainability agenda which calls us to reduce our environmental impact. So far, 133 staff from KBL have signed up to join the community in Mt. Kenya in planting 100,000 tree seedlings,” said Ms. Kimotho said.
107th Annual General Meeting
OF THE EAST AFRICA NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY VENUE
Louis Leakey Hall, Nairobi Museum DATE
Wednesday 10th May 2017 TIME
12:00 - 2:00pm
MEET THE NATURE KENYA
FIELD STAFF
Environment Cabinet Secretary Prof. Judi Wakhungu addresses guests during the Mt. Kenya forest restoration breakfast meeting that was hosted by Nature Kenya. The meeting was convened to engage the private sector in conservation of the Mt. Kenya forest to secure sustainable water flow downstream. PHOTO: J. MWACHARO
Partnership for sustainable restoration of Mt. Kenya forest from pg. 1 Bird species found there include the Jackson’s Francolin, Sharpe’s Longclaw, Hunter’s Cisticola, Jackson’s Widowbird and Abbott’s Starling. With funding from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), Nature Kenya is also implementing the Water Payment for Ecosystem Service Scheme in Mt. Kenya. This project seeks to promote a sustainable supply of financial resources for biodiversity related catchment management to maintain sustainable flow of water for downstream ecosystem services,
livelihoods and business. It also aims at brokering Payment for Ecosystem Service (PES) relationships between potential buyers and sellers of Mt. Kenya’s water resources as a contribution towards sustainable financing for their continued safe provision. Water services stewards or sellers in the scheme are local community based organisations (CBOs), Community Forest Associations (CFAs) and forest adjacent dwellers.
Ms. Rebecca Ikachoi is the Site Extension Officer based in Homa Bay County, implementing the Health of People and Environment in Lake Victoria Basin Project. Rebecca is involved in the planning, executing and reporting of the site-based project activities. Rebecca is a community development enthusiast who has worked with different projects supporting community initiatives targeted at livelihoods improvement within Nandi and Homa Bay Counties. She is a graduate of Kenyatta University with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Community Development and is currently pursuing a Postgraduate diploma in Project Management at the Kenya Institute of Management Studies.
Richard Ndiga (left) from Serena Hotels with Nature Kenya’s Paul Gacheru (center) - Species and Sites Manager and Robert Owiti.- Development Director follow proceedings during the Mt. Kenya forest restoration breakfast meeting held at the Kempiski Villa Rosa Hotel, Nairobi. PHOTO: J. MWACHARO
For updates go to Editorial Team
Norman Kiboi Gloria Waswa Fleur Ng’weno Serah Munguti John Mwacharo Layout John Mwacharo Front banner J. Mwacharo
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Birdwalk at the Racecourse Three wednesday walks and three new birds for me. This week it was the Waxbill. A very rare visitor from the drylands to the Ngong Forest which borders the racetrack. We are having exceptionally dry weather in much of Kenya ans it seems some dry country birds are shifting location and giving Nairobi birders a special treat. Peter Usher
April Skies By F. Ng’weno Golden Jupiter rises in the east as the sun sets in the west, and sails across the sky during the night, setting in the west at dawn. With binoculars on a clear, dark night, you may see up to four of Jupiter’s moons as bright dots on each side of the planet.
star Aldebaran. High above, in the northwest, two sets of two stars form the constellation Gemini, the Twins. The moon is near Aldebaran on April 1 and 28, near the star Alhena in Gemini on the 3rd and 30th, fairly near bright Pollux in Gemini on the 4th and May 1.
Little Mercury is bright above the sunset in the first week of April, then sinks lower each night. Mars, now quite faint, sets a little later. Mars is near the star cluster that the ancient Greeks called the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters, in the second half of April.
High in the northeast, the bright star Regulus is at the heart of the constellation Leo the lion. The moon is near Regulus on April 6 & 7, near the planet Jupiter on the 10th and near the star Spica on the 11th.
In the morning sky, brilliant Venus reappears above the sunrise. Saturn is high above at dawn. The moon is near Saturn on April 16, and near Venus on the 23rd. April Stars Sirius, the night’s brightest star, is high in the southwest, and Canopus, second brightest, below it in the south. Sirius is called the Dog Star – imagine Sirius as the dog’s eye, and look for bright stars forming a paw below, and a paw and tail to the east (left). The Little Dog – the bright star Procyon – is high overhead. The constellation Orion – Hunter or Warrior – walks towards the west. North (right) of Orion is the reddish
A NEW BIRD FOR NAIROBI! And an endemic one at that. Hinde’s Babblers at the University of Nairobi’s Field Station at Kabete, photographed by Peter Usher. The birds were first seen by Simon Carter in late February, and then viewed by the entire Wednesday Morning Birdwalk on 8 March 2017. Thanks to Sidney Shema for liaising with the University of Nairobi.
Two iconic constellations rise in the east on April evenings. The Plough or Big Dipper is low in the northeast. Crux, the Southern Cross, is low in the southeast. Moon, April 2017 April 3 – first quarter. April 11 – full moon. April 19 – last quarter. April 26 –new moon Meteor showers When planet Earth passes through dust or rocks in space – often the remains of comets – some dust or rock may fall in our atmosphere and burn up. These flashes of light are sometimes called “shooting stars”. The Lyrids Meteor shower is in mid to late April, peaking on April 22-23. Best viewing from a dark location after midnight.
WELCOME ON BOARD
APRIL AT A GLIMPSE Apr 1 Apr 5th Apr 8th Apr 12th Apr 16th Apr 19th Apr 26th Apr 27th Apr 29th st
Nature Kenya (the EANHS) would like to welcome the following members to the East Africa Natural History Society:
FoCP Nature Walk Morning Bird Walk FoCP Nature Walk Morning Bird Walk Sunday Bird Watch Morning Bird Walk Morning Bird Walk FoNA Public Lecture Members’ Trip - Ngurumani Escarpment trip
CORPORATE MEMBERS Mpala Research Centre Privatization Commission INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS Riverside School FAMILY MEMBERS Lydia Marzell Richard Moncrieff SPONSOR Neliah Njeri Mwangi
Bird ringing every Tuesday morning (check with Ornithology section, National Museums).
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS Christopher Kiwinga Mkoji Elijah Muiruri Kungu
Shirley Segecha Bruce Germain Christine Karimi Henry Wainwright Bruno Nyundo STUDENT MEMBERS Candyanne Mugo Evans Makarut Kirruti Samwel Wainaina Nduati Mary Ndambuki Victoria Wanjiku Mokua
Birders Please Note! The Wednesday Morning Birdwalks meet at 8:30 am at the Nairobi National Museum. The walks will leave the museum by 8:45 am. The group meets in the courtyard of the Nairobi National Museum, past the entrance to the galleries. We normally return at about 12:30 pm. The Sunday Birdwatch on the THIRD Sunday of each month now also meets at 8:30 am, at the same location. It is a day trip; please bring water and lunch.
Nguruman escarpment 3 days-2 nights Camping trip
Mombasa Birdwalks On the 3rd Saturday of each month. For meeting time and place, please contact Taibali Hamzali <thamzali@gmail. com> / 0733-980540; or Doris Schaule <dorischaule@gmail.com> / 0722-277752. Or check Facebook page: <https://www.facebook. com/groups/FFJmombasa/>
Cost - 13,600/- per person
Contact the office for information on other birdwalks in Kakamega, Kisumu, and other sites
Cost Covers:
Ngong Forest walks - 1st and 3rd Saturday at 9.00 am. Contact Simon 0729-840715 th st
-Transport in a Safari vehicle -Meals -Conservancy fees -Guide fees -Camping fee & equipment
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membership MEMBERSHIP TYPES
Ksh Per Year
Full 2,000 Sponsor 6,000 Family 2,800 Student 1,200 Schools, Clubs 1,500 Corporates 20,000 - 30,000
JOIN/RENEW MEMBERSHIP Select ‘Lipa na Mpesa’ Select ‘Pay Bill’ Enter business number 100300 Enter account number (put your lapsed membership number or write new member) Enter the amount, enter your PIN Con�irm details & press OK
For details on associated groups such as Youth Committee, Succulenta, and Friends of Nairobi Arboretum, City Park or Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, contact office@naturekenya.org