FoASF participates in Eco-friendly products exhibition
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Sep 16 2008 | By: davidngala
FoASF participates in Eco-friendly products exhibition at the Gede Museum.
FoASF is among the various community groups that is taking part in the Eco-friendly products exhibition that has been organized by SHAPE Africa (a community based group) and the Gede national museum.
Carol Lumosi - FoASF Manager at FoASF stand at the exhibition.
The exhibition is geared to help the community groups market their products to potential clients. Different community groups are taking part in this exhibition that kicked off on Monday 15th September 2008 at the Gede museum.
Official opening ceremony of the exhibition at Gede museum
The FoASF displays includes information on Arabuko-Sokoke forest and activities of FoASF. This display is used to educate the public about the importance of forest in particular Arabuko-Sokoke forest and how they can get involved in conserving it.
Many community groups are using different materials in creating their products, some of the material used is wood, which is a very common material in carvings. However in as much as wood is a preferred material it is important for the buyer to find out what type of wood was used to create the products. Some poach wood from the forest for making their curios which is discouraged. This exhibition will also be a good awareness tool about the products that are friendly to the environment and those that are not.
The audienec at the opening ceremony.
The exhibition is also a great way for the various community groups to interact and network with each other.
Tags: Eco-friendly products, Gede, museum
14 year old boy caught poaching!
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Sep 15 2008 | By: davidngala
Hi this is David,
Over the past weeks there has been a lot of activity here at Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. More and more people continue to poach wild game as well as trees for timber and fuel wood despite the joint efforts of Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service and other support groups such as the Friends of Arabuko-Sokoke forest (FoASF)
Last week I took some forest guards to the western part of Arabuko-Sokoke forest. A place known as Malanga in the local language. I was showing them various paths the locals use, and some that I suspect the poachers use for hunting down game meat.
Accompanied by the armed forest guards, we took to three different transects, and we randomly walked to the three points that I had marked on my GPS. Two of the way points that I had selected had snare activity, poles were tied in ropes at the two places.
We took a visible path along the nature reserve boundary and followed it east wards, about eight kilometres from the edge of the forest, before we suddenly came across two young boys and one of them had a dead female suni (a type of antelope) in his possession. On seeing the forest guards, one of the boys ran away while the other one was caught by the guards.
The young 14 year boy handcuffed by the forest guards.
The 14 year old boy later confessed to the forest guards that his father sent him to the forest to trap animals. His father had about five hundred different snares which he uses to snare animals such as the suni, dicker, bush pigs and at times buffalos. The boy was later detained and his apprehended.
Young boy confesses of poaching the suni.
The boy’s father handcuffed with the suni on his neck.
We are slowly having progress with getting the poachers as we have backing from the Kenya Forest Service, however the illegal activities still continue and the forest continues to be destroyed.
Tags: Arabuko-Sokoke, FoASF, Poaching, Suni
About Friends of Arabuko Sokoke Forest (FoASF)
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Sep 05 2008 | By: davidngala
What’s special about Arabuko Sokoke Forest.
The forest covering over 400 km2, is the largest piece of indigenous coastal forest remaining in Kenya and also East Africa. As such it is a key site for the global survival of six bird and three mammal species. It is noted for its high biodiversity arising from a history of gradual isolation and the fact that it has three forest types in one.
View of Arabuko Sokoke Forest.
Dense Cynometra thicket dominates the higher ground on a dark red soil and is home to the tiny Sokoke Scops Owl. There are also areas of open woodland with grasses and flowering plants growing on a light sandy soil under the delicate spreading canopy of the Brachystegia trees. Here the globally threatened Clarke’sWeaver, Amani Sunbird and Sokoke Pipit can often be seen.
A picture of the globally threatened Amani sunbird.
The mixed forest dominated by the wonderful shapes of the Afzelia trees with twisted boughs and dark green foliage is the favoured habitat of the Golden-rumped Elephant-shrew, another endangered species. Arabuko Sokoke Forest is situated to the west of the road between Malindi and Mombasa, and extends from Gede, south of Malindi, almost to Kilifi, approximately half way along the main road to Mombasa.
A map showing Arabuko Sokoke Forest.
Apart from local people’s understandable need to make a living for their families from whatever resources they find to hand, elephants and baboons often leave the Forest and damage the crops of people living on its margins.
The Forest is therefore in constant danger from poachers of wood for charcoal, building and carvings for tourists in the nearby coastal resorts, and of animals for food. It is also threatened by people wishing to clear it for agriculture and to rid themselves of nuisance animals.
Poachers cut tree for wood craving.
Tree logging at the forest.
The Forest is now also being harvested sustainably by local butterfly farmers who earn an income from the sale of pupae to the Kipepeo Project, which collectively exports them to live butterfly exhibits overseas. In addition the forest provides vital medicinal plants and firewood for the local communities living around it.
A butterfly species that is found in the forest.
History of FoASF
Friends of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest (FoASF) is a support group, consisting of individuals, institutions and businesses who in some way would like to contribute to a positive future for Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. Gazetted as a Forest Reserve, the forest is under a joint management agreement involving four institutions:- Forestry Department, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forestry Research Institute and National Museums of Kenya.
Monitoring in Arabuko Sokoke forest.
However, it is recognized that substantial support and interest comes from many individuals and organizations outside this framework. In the past there has been help with the battles over degazettement, reports of illegal activities, updates on natural history sightings, suggestions for management improvements, and financial contributions that have allowed more diverse activities to take place. Friends of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, utilizing this interest and concern aims to contribute to ensuring that the forest is enjoyed and used sustainably for generations to come.
David Ngala - FoASF ’s Conservation Officer in the forest.
Friends of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest (FoASF) was only started in October 1999 by concerned individuals and institutions to link people interested in the conservation of the Forest with the present Forest Managers. In mid-December 1999, the British High Commissioner for Kenya, Sir Jeffrey James - himself a keen birdwatcher and conservationist - officially launched the FoASF on the same occasion as the constructed Tree Platform was opened by the Mayor of Malindi, Gideon Mung’aro.
Tree house at Arabuko Sokoke Forest.
FoASF’s Mission
Friends of Arabuko Sokoke Forest (FoASF) seeks to work with local communities to conserve the internationally important Arabuko-Sokoke Forest . This is done through biodiversity conservation action, awareness creation, community work and improving eco-tourism facilities for visitors at the forest. FoASF also supports any activity which helps local people and therefore makes them less eager to destroy it or steal from it for short term gain.
The FoASF - Friends scheme.
Friends of FoASF (sometimes known as members ) offer both technical and financial support and also get actively involved in joint ventures relating to the overall care and conservation of the Forest. These activities have helped raise awareness about the Forest and have encouraged more people to use it for recreation. A voluntary committee is responsible for the day to day running of Friends of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and for organising activities that will involve members in different ways. FoASF has employed three staff members who are responsible in the daily running of activities, the team reports to FoASF committee monthly.
In mid-2000 FoASF has almost 80 “friends and is growing slowly all the time. Anyone interested in becoming more involved with such work is very welcome and should email FoASF@Bigfoot.com or contact the Manger on camosi2001@yahoo.com.
FoASF logo
The Golden-rumped Elephant-shrew is a strange-looking animal which is thought to be distantly related to the aardvark and to elephants, hyraxes and sea cows. It is only found in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, so its survival is dependent on the continued ecological health of the Forest. It was therefore chosen as the logo of the Friends of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest.
The Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew - the flagship of friends of arabuko sokoke forest.
More on the Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew….
The Golden-rumped Elephant-shrews practice facultative monogamy, meaning that they pair for life, but will take any opportunity to mate with a ‘widowed’ animal which has not yet found a new mate. Since the pair live together in their own territory, the males chasing off any male interlopers, and the females seeing off other females, one rarely sees more than two together. They feed mostly on insects dug up under the leaf litter, and sleep in nests of dry leaves swept into a small hollow in the ground. They do not burrow or climb trees, so are vulnerable to predation by wild carnivores and, more recently, by domestic dogs. In the early 1990s when Clare Fitz Gibbon was studying the animal, she estimated that there were 20,000 individuals in the Forest.
Some of FoASF Achievements
Friends of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest has now been in existence since 1999. In this time it has achieved a number of things in particular raising awareness about the forest, raising awareness about illegal activities happening in the forest and working together with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Kenya Forest Service (previously known as the Forest Department - FD) to take action to stop them, providing a high quality service to visitors to the forest station Visitor Centre and providing a forum for interested people and parties to get involved and be able to contribute directly to its conservation.
FoASF’s role :
1. To lobby in very tense situations.
2. To work with the “friends” of FoASF to educate the local communities on the conservation of the forest and awareness raising. FoASF also holds trainings for the community members.
3. To create awareness within the stakeholders and outside as a way of getting both local and international support for the conservation of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest.
4. To provide information on the destruction of the ecosystem which public servants may not provide even if they wanted or are obliged to by the nature of their position.
5. Publicize any information (both good and bad) that the public should know, especially about resource misuse by officers entrusted with the responsibility.
6. To stimulate efficiency and transparency because of fear of being exposed.
7. To enable groups with opposed interest to come together and establish dialogue.
8. To push for policy change through its Friends who constitutes professionals. [using professional skills within the membership ( friends)]
9. To establish a strong link with the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest managers.
10. To collect funds that can be used directly to support the conservation and management of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest.
Challenges that FoASF faces.
The organization has faced many challenges as it strives to achieve its goals. Due to lack of funds the organization (until recently) was not able to hire more personnel to help out in its activities. This has been a big challenge fand has lead to reduced activities within FoASF. We are currently working on getting full time support to effectively carry out some of FoASF’s activities.
FOASF NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT.
How you can support FoASF.
FoASF needs your support in carrying out its activities.
You can: -
Raise awareness by informing others correctly about the forest.
Increase vigilance by being in the forest and reporting on human activity and natural history sightings.
Become involved in on-going research and monitoring programmes or in one of the conservation projects.
Provide financial support and fundraise when necessary.
Effectively lobby when necessary at different strategic levels.
Encourage visitors to use the forest for recreation.
Donate to support Foasf activities.
Join the friends scheme and annually subscribe to be a friend.
Benefits of being a friend of Friends of Arabuko Sokoke Forest include:-
You will receive FoASF newsletters throughout the year.
With 10 or more other members you can request an illustrated talk about Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, but basic transport costs for the speaker will need to be covered in most cases.
You will be able to use the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest general reference library, situated at the Education Centre, Gede Forest Station, on production of your membership card.
You will be invited to join in any FoASF events during the year.
Join in the effort to help FoASF conserve Arabuko Sokoke Forest.
Tags: Amani sunbird, Arabuko-Sokoke forest, Clarkes's weaver, Friends of Arabuko Sokoke Forest, Kipepeo, Nature Kenya, Sokoke Pipit, Sokoke Scops owl
Just arrived at Watamu
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Sep 01 2008 | By: davidngala
Hi this is Carol,
I just arrived at Watamu on the morning of the 25th, it was a long trip for Nairobi to Malindi and them to Watamu and finally stepping out of the bus was a relief. I was picked by Henry the Manager at Mwamba guest house in Watamu, who was more than helpful to help me get my stuff and took me to Mwamba - A Rocha’s base.
Photo of Mwamba - A Rocha Kenya’s base.
As we drove into Mwamba guest house at A Rocha I was welcomed by the vast ocean - the Indian ocean gashing its water on to the shore, the sound of the wave rolling out on shore was beautiful and the view was spectacular to say the least, the cool breeze of the ocean and the beautiful trees that brought a cooling effect were my first sight of Watamu, what a sight!! all the travelling was worth it.
The beach just outside Mwamba.
At Mwamba I was welcomed by the Mwamba staff and volunteers - Julia and Sam. It was such a joy to finally have arrived at Watamu and it was even a greater joy to be surrounded by a group of lovely people at Mwamba who made me feel so much at home, it felt like family to me. In Swahili “tamu” means sweet and I guess “watamu” could mean “of the sweet” this is definitely true at Mwamba as the crew at Mwamba are sweet people- I was in the land of the sweet.”
After a short nap I was introduced to the rest of the staff and activities at Mwamba as well as briefed on what FoASF has been doing so far and how A Rocha has been helping out with FoASF activities in the absence of Colin the Chairman of FoASF.
I later took a stroll to the beach to embraced the mighty roar of the ocean, the white sand and blue waters. I could not take my eyes off them, I stood there for a while, still, not moving, almost not believing my sight!!
As I laid my head to rest after a warm and wonderful meal, I had never felt more at peace with myself than today, then I knew that all will be well…. as I take on my new task.
Signing out …..
Carol
Tags: , David Ngala, Friends of Arasbuko Sokoke Forest, Watanu
A Spotted Ground Thrush - and hunters
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jun 17 2008 | By: davidngala
I start by saying Hallo wherever you are!!!!!!!!!!! And hope God has been good to you. We thank you for the support and are happy that things are a bit in the process of moving on in the hope that we are going to conserve our heritage at all levels of understanding.
There are few things I wanted to share with you…
It was very early in the morning one day at the end of last month as Albert and I went for a Spotted Ground Thrush survey, a bird species confined to humid coastal forest, a scarce and local non-breeding migrant from the southern tropics between April and October. Most records of this rare bird around here are from Gede Ruins forest and Arabuko-Sokoke Forest.
The weather was very cloudy and there was a short shower of rain. As we alighted from the car it was 05:55am at a place that is meant to be a camp site and in the first light of day we saw two men with five hunting dogs and a bow and arrows. They ran very fast from us, and sincerely, it is very concerning as the Rangers outpost is only five hundred from this position E 0599368 N 9921785!!
Reporting incidents like this is always part of our regular job, but we often feel the action we’re taking is being done is always in vain as little comes of it.
Continuing the survey a short way we saw a movement in the leaf litter - a Spotted Ground Thrush! - at a distance of 30m from our position, and it jumped happily and started feeding. It was a good and fantastic view. At least we saw one of those birds after doing almost seven transects in the mixed forest for this year and having seen none others.
The frustrating thing again was the cutting stumps of the vulnerable Manilkara zanzibarensis for timber. We actually would invite any ideas concerning this issue in how to stop the destruction and we need immediate help to keep our surveys going so as to help conserve our forest for the coming Generations.
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