Charcoal Burning: a New Threat to Shimoni’s Coastal Forest
Category: Charcoal Burning, Colobus, Community Conservation, Shimoni Forest | Date: Nov 25 2007 | By: admin
Kenya may be most famous for its incredible big game and open savanna, but its coastal forests, although small, are no less significant for wildlife conservation. The Eastern Africa Coastal Forests Ecoregion is in fact the smallest of 25 Global Biodiversity Hotspots but contains the highest density of endemic plant and vertebrate animal species.
Above: one of the Colobus monkeys spotted during Friday’s survey
After two years, it is still a great privilege for me to know that a short walk from my office could bring the opportunity to watch the beautiful Angolan Black and White Colobus monkeys in the canopy above me, or a glimpse of the wonderful Zanj Elephant Shrew darting through the leaf litter. Sadly it is also never far from my mind that any loss of coastal forest brings these creatures a step closer to extinction.
Above: Chainsaws are often heard in Shimoni Forest, this tree was recently cut on Transect 6
That’s why the sudden appearance of charcoal burning pits in Shimoni forest over the last few months has caused alarm amongst our research team and many of our friends in the community. Last Friday, GVI’s research team returned to survey Transect 6, our furthest away, only to return with the sad news that in the intervening few months, 5 charcoal burning pits have sprung up along a 500m stretch.
The illegal felling of these trees to slowly burn them in large earth ovens to produce charcoal not only scars the ground but leaves gaping holes in the canopy where troops of Colobus should be travelling, feeding or simply resting.
Above: Charcoal being packed up along Transect 6
Having recently estimated from our research that 5% of the forest we survey has been lost in just one year to clear felling of land, either for agriculture or development, this has added to a sense of urgency in bringing the local communities and private landowners together in finding solutions to the challenge of safeguarding the forest that remains.
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5 Responses to “Charcoal Burning: a New Threat to Shimoni’s Coastal Forest”
Pam/Shell Beach CA, on 26 Nov 2007
oops
Lisa, California, on 26 Nov 2007
Wishing you and your team all the best of luck. I hope someone finds a solution to the charcoal industry and fast. It seems to be affecting so many forests. Please keep us updated on your progress. Lisa
F. J. PECHIR, on 26 Nov 2007
Sorry to hear about this destruction of the forest and its wildlife. Its a shame that this pristine lands are being cleared and destroyed in such a way! Please keep us with the up-dates on this serious problem. Thank you for the report.
GVI Kenya, on 26 Nov 2007
Thank you for the comments and for your concern. It is of course a great shame to see any loss to these important habitats. Our challenge is not only to understand these habitats as scientists, but also to share that understanding with the local communities where selling charcoal may be one of the few means they have available to feed their families. In villages such as Kidong on the edge of Tsavo West, we are helping to develop alternative livelihoods to overcome these same problems. The experience we are gaining there will hopefully benefit the communities around Shimoni in the future.
Pam/Shell Beach CA, on 26 Nov 2007
Thanks for the info. I would be interested to hear more of the work being done to develop alternative livelihoods as you mentioned. Keep us informed!
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