Applied Conservation Research Projects

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Forest Elephant Research Project

Bush Meat Control Research Project

Forest Fires Management Research Project

Integrated Biodiversity Conservation Research Project

Forest Elephant Research Project

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The Mt. Kenya Ecosystem is largely a high altitude tropical forest. The forest harbors the endangered African forest elephant. The elephant population in this forest is facing imminent risk of extinction due to poaching for ivory, habitat destruction, and human settlement and retaliatory killings due to people/elephant conflicts. Little is known about the ecology and population of the remaining forest elephant as census and monitoring in the dense forests poses challenges to scientists. To better protect and conserve this endangered species, various scientific studies are necessary including devising effective census methods.

The aims of our forest elephant research are:

• Device suitable and effective census methods in the dense forest

• Determine the population size remaining in Mt. Kenya forest

• Study the species’ habitat needs, home range requirements, ranging patterns, and seasonal movements.

• Study the trends and nature of elephant poaching and conflicts between the species and humans.

• In collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including local community, develop strategies to thwart continued loss of the forest elephant populations,

• Develop effective mechanisms to mitigate conflicts between the elephants and people.

Bush Meat Control Project:

Conservation of bush meat -targeted species including bush pig, giant forest hog, various antelopes, and buffalo as indicator species in Mt. Kenya West Forest in Nyeri, Laikipia, Kirinyaga, and Meru counties of Kenya

The aims of this project are to find out about population status, distribution, and habitat utilization, past and present poaching activities, bush meat trade- demand and supply patterns, develop participatory conservation action plan and conduct conservation awareness program in the Mt. Kenya Ecosystem.

This project will be provided management prescription to ensure long-term survival of all species in their natural habitats.

 

Forest Fires Management Research Project

Like many wildness areas in the world, Mt. Kenya Ecosystem is prone to periodic forest fires with tremendous effects on the environment and the communities. The effects, causes and of forest fires on Mt. Kenya have not been scientifically quantified.

The overall purpose of this research is to come up with science-driven forest fires prevention and suppression strategies with involvement of various stakeholders including local communities. Through research, models will be constructed to identify the variables that have a significant influence on the occurrence of fires, including anthropogenic influences, and by building maps showing the spatial probability distribution for fires (fire susceptibility maps) occurring in specific geographic areas within the Mt. Kenya ecosystem including the afro alpine zones. The study will also carry out an assessment of ecological, social and economic impacts of forest fires while demonstrating ecological adaptations to fires of various species.  The studies conducted under this research will also provide data to indicate the loss of forests in terms of area burnt and value, volume, regeneration etc.  Our forest fire research project has an important objective of creating a strong and an effective forest fire management system. One important outcome of this research is introduction of an Early Warning Fire Forecasting System using scientific data and Fire Danger Rating System for early detection of Forest fires. 

 

Integrated Biodiversity Conservation Project

 

 Project site: West Mt. Kenya ecosystem

The Mt. Kenya ecosystem is suffering from the problems of degradation and over exploitation of natural resources. Degradation is mostly associated with illegal forest products harvesting for fire wood and construction, over-grazing, logging, clearing forest for cultivation, and over abstraction of water resources. Likewise, forest fires, inappropriate agriculture practices, poaching, environmental degradation of deforested areas and human-wildlife conflicts are common problems of the project area. Additionally, the ecosystem in the study site has provided valuable environmental services. The broad objective of this project is to provide a detailed scientific knowledge through an integrated study whose findings can be used to enhance the conservation, management and restoration of the Mt. Kenya ecosystem.

This is a community based study whose aims are to:

• Assess the present environmental conditions of the ecosystem with the help of ecological data including forest structure/condition, regeneration, productivity, carbon stock and identification of sensitive habitats

• Provide  baseline information of anthropogenic impacts on the ecosystem

• Prepare a comprehensive list of services provided to the community by the ecosystem through biodiversity valuation

• Assess the applicability of ecosystem services for better valuing of natural resources

• Assess the extent and trends of human-wildlife conflicts and their effects on conservation and local livelihoods.

• Assess the factors fueling the rampant poaching of rhinoceros in the private ranches neighboring Mt. Kenya.

• Preparation of baseline data for the conservation of species and management of the ecosystem