Friends of Karura Forest

Our new KaruraKam is providing an exciting glimpse into what’s going on after the gates close at 18:00 hours. The virtual capture of three Africa clawless otters on midnight of 4th Feb was a particular surprise: they are usually found closer to or in water and are usually diurnal. Maybe all the human traffic in the forest is forcing them to change their habits. See more images on our Facebook page, and stay tuned for more creatures…

KFK Chair Karanja Njeroge, KFS Director D.K. Mbugua and  KFS Director Nairobi Conservancy Charity Munyasaya discuss joint management in Karura Forest

The Kenya Forest Service and the Friends of Karura Forest Community Forest Association have signed a 5-year Forest Management Agreement. The far-reaching and forward-looking document is a major milestone for stakeholder citizen involvement in joint-stewardship with government of an important national resource. The terms of the agreement cover such areas as security (electric fence, manned gates and associated infrastructure), conservation (reforestation, resource management, controlled access), and eco-friendly activities in support of conservation, education, science and recreation; as well as shared financial accountancy for all joint activities. Basically, the agreement enshrines the principles of cooperation that have hallmarked the phenomenal re-emergence of Karura as a protected national heritage since 2009, when the FKF was chartered as a community forest association.

Karanja Njeroge, FKF Deputy Chair Cristina Boelcke-Croze, KFS County Coordinator Stephan Kahunyo and Charity Munyasaya discuss the terms of the Agreement

2012 appears to have been the wettest year in 67 years: nearly twice the long-term average (dotted line in chart on right). Rainfall measurements taken near the Karura’s southern boundary since 1945 at the Muthaiga Country Club suggest that only the famous flood year 1963 came close to the 1,770 mm (70″) measured along the Gitathuru River last year.

The April 2012 total of 512 mm was the most ever recorded for that month, and December’s 300 mm was second only to Dec ’63.  Moreover, records in recent years show an increasing annual trend (solid blue line in chart).  Anyone still doubt the climate is changing?

Further to the earlier post below asking for help in the KFS Nursery, we also invite volunteers to join the FKF Scouts patrolling the forest trails, helping to clear Lantana and collect litter. If interested, please contact John Chege, Chief Scout on 0724 215423.

FKF is still looking for plant-lovers to help out in the KFS nursery: to collect seedlings from the forest, to plant, pot or re-pot. A great between-term, free-morning or retiree pastime. Note that the Nursery is closed on weekends.

The KFS Nursery feels like more of a garden than a commercial plant enterprise. Well worth a visit, to browse, buy, work or just sit. It’s just north of the KFS Headquarters. You can drive through the FKF main gate off Kiambu Road or walk from junctions 14 or 22 (see map).

Contact: Cristina Boelcke-Croze (0722-204861 or cboelcke@karurafriends.org) for more information. The Karura Forester, John Orwa, 0727-818963, or his deputy, Fredrick Mutisya, 0722-581402, can give you details about access and timing.

We need to reinstate spot checks in the forest to ensure that ticketing is being done properly.  So please help by responding positively to FKF Scouts or KFS Rangers who may approach you with a Spot Security Check Form.

In addition, gate staff will be rotated between gates, so you may not find your usual Scout and G4S guard at your preferred entry point.

In order to enter the forest, please make sure you bring your Annual Passes every time you visit.

Registering at the gate is not done regularly by everybody.  Please do register for your own safety.

A few dog owners are still ignoring the Dog Guidelines and letting their dogs run wild in Dogs-On-Leash areas.

Uncontrolled dogs, especially in groups, endanger forest wildlife (duikers, bushbuck) and in some areas poses a risk to the dogs themselves: if your GSD meets an angry bushpig mother protecting her young, the dog will come off worse. 

There have been numerous complaints from non-dog owning visitors, who have equal rights to enjoy the forest.

Scouts are instructed to insist firmly that visitors keep dogs on-leash except in designated off-leash areas. 

To enforce the rules, we will have no choice but to keep repeat offenders from bringing their dogs into the forest. 

If the guidelines cannot be followed, there is a risk that the Kenya Forest Service will decide to ban dogs altogether. Please, let’s work together to prevent that happening.

Many thanks!