Friends Of The Lembus Forest

Cause 
The Friends Of The Lembus Forest is an environmental conservancy and advocacy and organisation that was founded on 26th April 2009. The Friends Of The Lembus Forest initiative is aimed at stopping the destruction and restoring the Lembus Forest which forms part of the greater Mau Complex.

The Lembus Forest

The Lembus Forest

Our methods are through raising public awareness, school outreach, supporting local groups, knowledge sharing, research, advocacy, resource monitoring, fundraising and involvement in reforestation activities. All these is done at best leveraging on existing initiatives by local groups, government, NGOs and international organisations.

Membership
Our membership is global and consists of professionals, residents from the community, well wishers and is growing. Many have pledged involvement in grassroot participation as well as logistical, financial and administrative activities.

Friend of the Lembus Forest is open for all membership and does not discriminate membership due to creed, race, sex, political affiliation, tribe, disability, health status, nationality or opinion.

How To get Involved 
You may participate in the Friends Of  The Lembus through any or all of the following ways;

Remember you are part of the team. Educate, influence, change, learn and most importantly have fun..

About The Lembus Forest
The Lembus forest was gazetted in 1932 as crown forest and spans a forest area of 51,235 hectares. The exotic forests cover an area of 25,064 hectares while the rest is under indigenous forest. It serves as watershed to the Perkerra, Kerio, Molo and Nyando Rivers. It is located in Koibatek District, Rift Valley, between Rongai & Mau Summit to the south, Kipkabus to the north, Timboroa to the west and Eldama Ravine to the east. On 15/10/98 the Lembus Forests was proposed to be turned into a game reserve.
 
Wanton destruction of indigenous trees is widespread in Lembus forest in Eldama Ravine where the loggers are targeting Cedar, Podo, Teak, and African Olive & Sandal Wood. Reforestation of acres of harvested exotic plantations (Pine, Cypress, etc) still remains unfulfilled. Illegal loggers continue with their business and colluding with the officials & businessmen.
 
The Mau Forest is under siege due to human activity and had lost close to 100,000 hectares of forestland in the last ten years. Kenya is loosing KES 20 billion annually as the result of wanton destruction of the forests. The UNEP report on the invasion of the Mau forest had raised alarm over the future of forest projects in Kenya alarmed the government.  It has spell the doom on the future of million of people that depend on forest for their survival. Apart from bring the biggest of the Kenyan water towers, the 420,000 hectares Mau Forest Complex forms part of the catchments area of the River Nile Basin. Water bodies such as Lake Nakuru and Ewaso Nyiro are under threat due to the drop in the water level upstream.
 
Farming, Tourism, Rift Valley lakes, Hydro-power generation, the Nile, etc. all depend on the Mau Complex.

Gerald Cheruiyot
Founder, Friends of the Lembus Forest,
P.O. Box 2860, 00200 City Square
Nairobi, KENYA
e-mail: gerald.cheruiyot@gmail.com

 

The After Charge Tree Planting Event    posted by Gerald Cheruiyot

On June 1st 2009, we had our 1st event and planted 100 indigenous tree seedlings at Narasha Forest part of the Lembus forest, right behind the District Forest office at Eldama Ravine. 

The 2009 Rhino Charge

The 2009 Rhino Charge

After charge tree planting article: http://ecokenya.org/2009/05/29/tree-planting-after-rhino-charge/

East African Wildlife Service is also keen on our efforts as part of their Forest Rehabilitation Project and we have been in close communication with the in-charge who has shown willingness to work with us.

The After Charge Tree Planting Event

The After Charge Tree Planting Event

Following this success, we plan to make it a monthly event and up the number of trees to 200. The next tree planting event is planned for the weekend of 27th June.

Species planted:

  • Prunus africana (tenduet) – Red stinkwood
  • Podocarpus Falcatus (benet) – E. A. Yellow Wood
  • Podocarpus latifolius (septet) – E. A. Yellow Wood
  • Olea Europea Africana (emtit) – African Wild Olive
  • Juniperus Procera (tarakwet) – African Pencil Cedar
  • Warburgia ugandensis (soget) – E. African Greenheart
  • Markhamia lutea

 Still to get botanical names of the following:

  • Lamaiywet
  • silibwet (silipchet)
  • sinendet

 Non indigenous:

  • Nandi Flame

 

The July 2009 Tree Planting Event   posted by Gerald Cheruiyot

On 26th June 2007, Friends of the Lembus Forest proceeded to the Rift Valley to meet up other members looking forward for the July 2009 tree planting event.

Our first stop was at the Mogotio Cultural Museum right at the equator where we met Koibatek Chief Warden William Kimosop where we had discussion touching on conservancy initiatives, “The North Rift Forum“, “Molo River Basin Consortium” and “Friends Of The Lembus Forest“. The tour and deliberations were very exciting and encompassed how these groups could leverage on building synergies amongst themselves as well as sharing knowledge and resources.

KWS Warden William Kimosop and Gerald Cheruiyot at the Mogotio Cultural Museum

KWS Warden William Kimosop and Gerald Cheruiyot at the Mogotio Cultural Museum

From Mogotio, we headed to Eldama Ravine where we met FLF members on the ground and also surveyed few potential camping sites.

On Saturday 27th June, we began our pursuit of our July 2009 commitment of at least 200 indigenous trees at the tree planting site at Narasha Forest behind the district forest office. We managed to have 250 trees for this month though the dry weather was really worrying since some of our earlier seedling had begun wilting.

Following the tree planting event, there was a de-briefing session where FLF members shared their view. Points worth noting are;

 

  • FLF decided to hire 2 personnel on the ground to tend trees planted and also continually plant trees at designated sites on a routine basis.

     

  • Kipkorir Chemirmir was appointed Secretary to the FLF Board & Senior Advisor, Irene Gakuru was appointed FLF Treasurer, Ken Kibet as Lembus Forest Operations Coordinator.
    JUL09TPFLF 096

    The July 2009 tree planting event

  • Members present agreed to contribute funds monthly and remit to the treasurer
  • Next tree planting event tentatively planned for 1st August 2009. Departure 31st July and return on 2nd August 2009. 

 

 

Ken

Ken

 

The camp

The camp

The rest of the day was spent sight seeing the Lembus Forest, Chemususu dam and Sawich areas.

In the evening we pitched camp at Poror right in the bush and enjoyed a BBQ & drinks over a bonfire. The guys roasted the goat while the ladies prepared some delicious dry fry ;o)

DSCN8564

The girls

On Sunday morning we all hiked in the Lembus forest and those with guts took a plunge in the Lelgel River before marking the close of the event.

Forest hike

Forest hike

Breathtaking view point cliff

Breathtaking view point cliff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the river

At the river

 

 

Special thanks goes out to Mr. Timon Mboga the DFO Koibatek, Mr. Mungai (DFO’s Office), Mr Korir (the tree nursery head who actually participated in the event), Warden William Kimosop, “North Rift Forum“, “Molo River Basin Consortium” and all FLF members.

 

 

 

 

 

The August 2009 Tree Planting Event   posted by Gerald Cheruiyot

A month has gone since we left our footprint at the Lembus Forest with 100 saplings planted in June & 250 in July. We are planning for another tree planting event on the coming weekend, of 1st August 2009.

The Lembus forest is the most easterly part of the MAU complex and is home to a unique range plant & animal species with abundant biodiversity that is continually under threat. 12 beetle species unknown to science were recently discovered in a study.

For those who can make it, we plan to go ahead on 31st July and spend time visiting local initiatives, raising public awareness at local schools and education on how the natural resource can have substantial economic use from eco-tourism, etc. The rest of the guys can still travel on the 1st.

Our target:

  • To plant 200 trees or more.
  • To view progress of trees planted on the earlier tree planting sessions.
  • Raise public awareness
  • 1-2-1 sessions with Kenya Forest Service officials
  • Have fun, learn and enjoy the environment

Location:

  • Tentatively Narasha Forest within the larger Lembus forest next to the District Forest Office.
  • Distance of about 700 m from Eldama Ravine town along the Ravine Eldoret road.
  • Eldama Ravine is 60 kms from Nakuru town and 2 1/2 hrs drive from Nairobi.

Accommodation & Meals:

  • We will pitch camp on the 1st and enjoy roast goat, drinks (BYOB), bonfire, music, etc. We have located the best campsite (a small fee will be charged to give back to the local community)
  • Taidys Restaurant offers accommodation at KES 1,500/- pppd bb (very nice en-suite rooms).
  • There is also Riverside hotel with fairly decent accommodation at a lower cost.
  • Taidys has good food and open late. That’s where the party will be @ on the 31st.

Excursions:

  • Sight seeing
  • Forest hike
  • Trout fishing (bring your on lines. I can also show you how to improvise one)

Weather:
The weather is generally good and actually a break from the dull Nairobi weather. If camping come with warm gear coz nights can be quite chilly and unpredictable hoar frosts do happen dipping to minus.

If you have a telescope, Eldama Ravine has a very clear and nice night view for star gazing.

Friday, Jul 31 Forecast – Cloudy with possible Thunderstorms (Max 21 Celsius – Min. 5 Celsius)
Saturday, Aug 1 Forecast – Sun and some clouds (Max 22 Celsius – Min. 4 Celsius)
Sunday, Aug 2 Forecast – Cloudy with some (Max 19 Celsius – Min. 6 Celsius)

Road:
Accessible via 2WD saloon.

The tree planting event starts at 11.00 a.m. 1st August 2009

Kindly confirm attendance. Link http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126774281360

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