Butterfly farming - a sucessful resource from Arabuko-Sokoke Forest
Category: Eco-friendly products, Forest products, Sustainable income generating activities | Date: Oct 29 2008 | By: davidngala
Ever heard of butterfly farming? Well at Kipepeo butterfly project its all about butterflies. Kipepeo is the Swahili word for butterfly. These beautiful creatures are all colours, all sizes all species. At the Kipepeo butterfly project all types of butterflies are breed.
one of the butterfly species at the forest
The Kipepeo project based in Gede aims at linking conservation of Arabuko-Sokoke forest and livelihoods development of surrounding rural communities. Arabuko-Sokoke forest has a unique biodiversity which presents a good habitat for butterfly farming. Farmers living adjacent to the forest are allowed in the forest to collect butterfly species of which they can breed in their butterfly farm houses and the pupae is packed and sold abroad in Japan, Europe and USA in exhibitions.
The Kipepeo project is an initiative that sort to support the conservation of the forest through the sustainable utilization of butterfly biodiversity to benefit the local communities. It also seeks to diversify coastal tourism through exhibit of live butterflies. This project has been a key step in conserving Arabuko-Sokoke forest by providing an alternative income source to local communities while at the same time, the locals seeing the value of the forest and conserving it.
The project benefits over 100,000 people in 50 villages around Arabuko-Sokoke. They have now organized themselves into 27 community groups. Kipepeo runs an attractive butterfly house at its centre in Gede Ruins. For more information on this project please visit www.kipepeo.org or contact kipepeo@africaonline.co.ke
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59 bird species identified …..seen any of these birds?
Category: Bird Surveys, Forest surveys | Date: Oct 28 2008 | By: davidngala
59 bird species identified …..seen any of these birds?
While I was at mrima wa ndege, I did some birding and identified 59 bird species. Mrima wa ndege is the name of a place in Swahili while means ‘the hill of birds” no wonder I got so many bird species. Here is a list of the bird species I identified in their common names:-
a view from mrima wa ndege.
1. African Barred owl
2. African scops owl
3. Fiery necked night jar
4. Zanzibar Sombre greenbul
5. Black headed Oriole
6. Northern brownbal
7. Collared sunbird
8. Grey headed bushshrike
9. ring necked dove
10. Laughing dove
11. Black crowned tchagra
12. Striped kingfisher
13. Tropical bulbul
14. Common bulbul
15. Red tailed tinkerbird
16. Long-tailed fiscal
17. Crested francolin
18. Red eyed dove
19. Pale flycatcher
20. Emarol spotted wood dove
21. Namaqua dove
22. Blue eyed starling
23. Purple banaded sunbird
24. Northern white crowned shrike
25. White-browed coucal
26. Red-billed buffalo weaver
27. Fork-tailed drongo
28. Golden pipit
29. Northern crownec
30. Grey wren-wabler
31. Black headed batis
32. White winged chat
33. Blue naped mousebird
34. Brown headed parrot
35. Rufous chatterer
36. Speckled mousebird
37. Grey hornbill
38. Mouse coloured sunbird
39. African bare-eyed thrush
40. Common scimitarbill
41. Grey-backed camaroptera
42. Sulphur breasted bush shrike
43. Spotted morning thrush
44. White bellied go-away-bird
45. Chestnut weaver
46. Black collared barbet
47. European golden oriole
48. Lilac breasted roller
49. Little bee eater
50. Greater honey guide
51. Amethyst sunbird
52. Green wood hoopoe
53. Palm swift
54. Pied wagtail
55. Burn swallow
56. Von der Decken’s hornbill
57. African harrier-hawk
58. Black backed puffback
59. Redchicked donblue
David Ngala
FoASF - Conservation Officer
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Explore the beauty beyound the beach!!
Category: Eco-friendly products, Forest products, Sustainable income generating activities | Date: Oct 27 2008 | By: davidngala
Thinking of a holiday at the coast? ……explore the beauty beyond the beach!
Dreaming of a holiday by the beach, take a minute to find out how the different ecosystems connect. Ecosystems are interrelated and do not exist on their own, just like a lion needs an antelope for food and to survive is the same way we need each other to enhance sustainable development.
The beach at Watamu - Mida creek.
The Arabuko-Sokoke ecotourism circuit aims at exploring the beauty beyond the beach…… this combines various entitles such as the forest and Mida creek which are ecologically connected and together form the UNESCO biosphere reserve. The circuit is engaged is connecting different conservation and community groups working and living in the area to benefit directly from the eco-tourism activities of the circuit
Tree platform inthe forest, run by a community group.
View point in the forest.
community groups - mangrove planting.
This eventually leads to the areas being conserved. The biggest threat to the forest and Mida creek is exploitation and unsustainable use by local communities in the tourism industry. By supporting the eco-tourism activities and groups that promote conservation and sustaible use of natural resources, you are helping local people earn a living that is directly linked to conserving the natural environment and sharing it with you.
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Environmental awareness at Ganda
Category: General | Date: Oct 27 2008 | By: davidngala
I travelled north of Arabuko-Sokoke forest to a place called Ganda at the chief’s office to meet with the chief to discuss how we can educate the community on environmental issues. The chief was to arrange a chiefs baraza to gather more community members to educate them on environmental issues.
Tree nursery
David Ngala
Friends of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest
Conservation Officer
E-mail:friendsofasf@gmail.com
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Tags: environmental awareness, FoASF
Sustainable harvesting of coconut trees for wood.
Category: Forest products, Sustainable income generating activities | Date: Oct 25 2008 | By: davidngala
While we were up and about as we were camping with the warden we came across a farmer who had planted coconut trees in his farm and was harvesting them for wood, the wood looked so good.
wood from coconut trees.
The farmer told us he decided to plant the coconut trees for coconuts and so he can harvest its wood later on. Coconut tree sgrow well in the coast region and they are abundant.
Farmer ( old man with a walking stick) talks to the warden as children listen
This practise is a good idea and if well adopted within the community will prevent people from poaching wood in the forest.
A view of the farmers farm with coconut trees and cashewnut trees in the background.
David Ngala
FoASF - Conservation Officer
Tags: coconut, wood, wood farming
A day out camping with the warden
Category: Forest surveys | Date: Oct 24 2008 | By: davidngala
Ever been out camping with the warden? Well David Ngala together with some forest guards went out camping with the new warden of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest.
David Ngala (in a blue shirt) helping the rangers set up camp.
It was an exciting time for David and company as he had an opportunity to show the warden what was going on in the forest and its environs.
The warden- Mr. Korir with the assistant chief - Mrima wa ndege and a ranger.
The new Arabuko- Sokoke Warden- Mr. Dickson Korir- had a chance to experience real bush life as he set his eyes in bringing positive change to the management of the forest through KWS - Kenya Wildlife Service. Well done bwana Korir!
Mr. Korir preparing to camp.
The campsite was set in the harsh terrain of the forest from Mrima wa ndege to Bamba to Ganze even till Sokoke and Ngerenye.
Harsh terrain at mrima wa ndege
He is keen to enhance ecotourism and education at the forest station which is a big step towards enhanching conservation of the forerst. We reckon if more and more people see the value of the forest and understand its importance than we will be experincing less destruction of the forest.
David Ngala at camp site.
This is an exciting time for us at “Friends of” as we look forward to this great oppoutnity to partner with KWS and other stakeholder in conserving Arabuko-Sokoke forest!
Caroline Lumosi
Friends of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest
Manager.
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Can you guess how big this elephant is?
Category: Forest surveys, Forest wildlife | Date: Oct 23 2008 | By: davidngala
The African elephants are among the largest mammals found in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. They are rarely seen during the day, preferring to hide deep in the forest thickets. Nevertheless elephant dung is evident along the forest tracks and other signs such as fallen trees, trees rubbed with mud among other signs.
Falling trees and branches - signs of elaphants.
Elephnat dung - another sign of elephant activity.
During a forest survey for the spotted ground thrush, we came across, signs of elephant activity.
The tree is bend due to elepmaths rubbing themseleves on it often.
Some times elephants rub their backs against trees to help them remove insects that hide on their body, this is their own way of scratching .
A close up of the tree and the mud left on the tree by elephants.
This was event as we came across several trees which had mud on a specific part of its branches. Sometimes this is used to estimated the height of the elephants. So can you guess how big this elephant is?
close up of mud on tree branch.
David estimating the height.
Wide area of the same tree.
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Asante sana - Thank you to our suppoters.
Category: Gratitude | Date: Oct 15 2008 | By: davidngala
A photo of the Sokoke scops owl - David’s favourite bird.
We are extremely grateful to all our supports, donors, members and faithful bloggers who have in one way of the other made a significant impact in our work.
We are grateful especially to those who have been able to donate through this blog. Your support and contribution has enabled us to keep on working at what we do best.
We may not be able to acknowledged all of you but would like to specifically thank the following for their donations that we received through this blog.
· Jeremy R for your donation of US$ 27.50,
· Steven G for your donation of US$ 100.
· David F for you donation of US$ 200.
· Emerentiane M for your donation of US$ 2,000
· Theresa S for your donation of US $ 250
· Theresa S for your donation of US$ 25
· Sherri S for your donation of US$ 25
We are also grateful to our partners and members for their continued support. We acknowledge the following for their guidance and support in forest surveys and monitoring work: A Rocha Kenya, Nature Kenya, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service, Wildlifedirect, Sunbird tours, Watamu stakeholders association, Local ocean trust, Conserve forever, and our faithful blog readers among others
To you all we say “Asante sana” (Thank you very much).
David Ngala (hugging a tree?) estimating the width of the baobab tree.
Tags: Arabuko-Sokoke
Watch out for the safari ants!!!
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 14 2008 | By: davidngala
Safari ants I guess got their name because they love to move, they are ever on transit, from one place to another.
I recently saw a massive exodus of some safari ants in the forest and needless to say they were not happy to see me either, I got bitten more than once when I accidently stepped on a group of them,
Safari ants - in organized groups.
These creatures are amazing, the way they move, the long lines and paths they take and how they guard each other as they move, its as if they are at war, anyone who messes them up gets a warning - they bite them or is it sting them?- . The soldier ants guard the others and create a protective barrier for the others as they invade on other ants and insects and steal their food and resources.
More safari ants…….
The sting or bite from them can leave you scatching and some times with bruses. They are so painful, that if you get attacked by them in the forest and they get into your inner garments…. Them you are in trouble, you may have to undress to try to remove them from your body as they somehow stick to the body ( i went through this and it was not intersting!)
Anyone with more information on the safariants, kindly feel free to share it,
Thanks
Caroline
FoASF
Tags: ASF, safariants
Ever seen a 10 M wide tree?.. look no farther than Arabuko-Sokoke forest…
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 13 2008 | By: davidngala
Ever seen a 10M wide tree?… well look no farther than at Arabuko-Sokoke forest
Me trying to get around the tree, obviously i could’nt
This baobab tree could be the widest tree I have ever seen, I could not even get around it halfway!,
The baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) was really amazing, it stood at an approximate height of 14 meters and was 10 meters wide. We found it along Ngaranya area in Arabuko-Sokoke forest, beside it was an active trail that is believed to be used by poachers,
The baobab tree is a special tree in the coast region, it is believed to be a sacred tree and most Giriama people are known to used it as a scared grove and make sacrifices to gods at the foot of the tree, if you are short of rain, just slaughter a white chicken and pray at the foot of the tree and wala! … rain you will get……. (so they believe)
A grasshoppers view point of the height of the tree.
The trunk of the baobab tree can store water, and in dry seasons elephants like this tree as they can get some water from it. The wood is mostly used for making canoes and the bark fibers makes ropes and baskets. The leaves and fruit pulp on the other hand are used as medicine against fever and the seeds and leaves are edible.
It amazing what creatures you can get in the forest!
David Ngala
FoASF Conservation Officer
Tags: Arabuko-Sokoke forest, Baobab
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