Kakamega Rainforest
The Kakamega Rainforest, located in western Kenya near the Uganda border, is the last remaining fragment of the Guinea-Congolian rainforest in the country. This biologically rich area, covering approximately 45,220 acres, is home to a diverse range of endemic and rare species, including unique birds, butterflies, and primates. The forest's elevation of 5,085 to 5,410 feet contributes to its distinct ecosystem, characterized by high rainfall and a closed-canopy structure predominantly made up of hardwood and softwood trees. Despite its protected status, less than 10% of the original forest remains, mainly due to human activities such as logging, agricultural expansion, and illegal poaching.
Kakamega is recognized as a critical biodiversity reservoir, attracting birdwatchers and researchers interested in its unique wildlife, including endangered species like the African gray parrot. The surrounding human population, exceeding 175 people per square kilometer, relies heavily on the forest for resources such as firewood, leading to ongoing challenges in conservation. Efforts are underway to promote sustainable livelihoods and mitigate the impacts of climate change, which threaten both the forest and the communities that depend on it. The Kakamega Rainforest serves as a vital reminder of the delicate balance between human activity and environmental conservation in tropical ecosystems.
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Kakamega Rainforest
- Category: Forest Biomes.
- Geographic Location: Africa.
- Summary: The Kakamega rainforest is the only remaining fragment of Guinea-Congolian rainforest in western Kenya. Surrounded by a growing population, it is rich in endemic and rare species.
The Kakamega rainforest is a relict tropical rainforest fragment situated in the Western Province of Kenya, close to the border with Uganda. It is the last large patch remaining in Kenya of the Guinea-Congolian rainforest, which once was connected to the rainforests of the Congo River basin and Central Africa. This forest is protected in a reserve and national park, but covers less than 10 percent of its original area, with only about 45,220 acres (18,300 hectares) in the reserve—of which only 29,650 acres (12,000 hectares) are forest.
Large portions of the forest are secondary growth in glades resulting from logging, agricultural clearing and burning, and commercial forestry plantations. Areas of indigenous forest remain in the northern part of the rainforest and along the River Yala Nature Trail in the southern part of the reserve.
The forest lies 5,085–5,410 feet (1,550–1,650 meters) above sea level, and receives high rainfall spread over two distinct rainy seasons each year. The Kakamega Rainforest biome lies within the Lake Victoria catchment area.
Biota
Scientists estimate that about 24,700 acres (10,000 hectares) of closed-canopy indigenous forest are left standing here, composed of a wide range of both hardwood and softwood tree species. Some 300 arboreal species have been identified. The most common genera of trees include Antiaris, Ficus, Croton, Celtis, Trema, Harungana, and Zanthoxylum. Exploitation of hardwoods has left species like Elgon teak rare and localized. There are some plantations of hardwoods like Milicia and mahogany within the forest reserve.
The forest currently is most famous as a bird sanctuary, with at least 16 species found in Kakamega and nowhere else in Kenya. Rare species include the endangered African gray parrot, with only a few individuals remaining. This species is under threat primarily because of wildlife trafficking for the pet trade. There also are several bird species, such as the blue-headed bee-eater and Turner’s eremomela, that are absent from neighboring Uganda. This fact further supports the idea that the Kakamega rainforest is a relict patch and an important biodiversity reservoir.
Birdwatching is a growing and important activity in the forest, attracting visitors from around the world. Tourism is supported by local guides and guide associations made up of outstanding local naturalists. The tourist attraction provides a source of income for human communities near the forest, as well as further incentive for conserving the biome. Visitors who are interested in birds are able to spot such varieties as the great blue turaco, Ross’s turaco, black-and-white casqued hornbill, double-toothed barbet, blue-shouldered robin-chat, yellow-bellied wattle-eye, Jameson’s wattle-eye, Ayres’s hawk eagle, African crowned eagle, and numerous other species.
The forest is rich in butterflies, with more than 350 species recorded here, including many with Guinea-Congolian rainforest affinities. Endemic (found nowhere else) butterflies include king forester (Euphaedra kakamegae) and a skipper butterfly, Metisella kakamegae.
Primates abound in the forest, including black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, potto, bushbabies, and the rare De Brazza’s monkey in the northern part of the forest at Kisere. Reptiles include the Jameson’s mamba, Gaboon viper, and rhinoceros viper, as well as the rare Gold’s cobra. The forest has been the site of long-term studies of primates, with some unique observations of interactions between different primate species.
Effects of Human Activity
The Kakamega Rainforest biome lies within one of the most densely populated zones of East Africa. It is surrounded by a human population exceeding 175 individuals per 0.4 square mile (one square kilometer). Most of the households surrounding the forest depend on it for a wide range of needs, including firewood, which is taken from fallen branches and small felled trees. Each day, the roads and tracks leading into the forest are filled with women and children collecting wood for use as fuel for cooking. Research indicates that more than $100 million worth of product is derived from the forest by the surrounding communities each year. Kakamega lost 1 percent of its humid primary forest and more than 8 percent of its tree cover from 2002 to 2021.
Encroachment remains a problem; most of the forest is unmanaged and relatively unprotected. Exploitation of commercial species is widespread, even with the protected reserves. Illegal logging remains a problem, despite efforts to mitigate it. Other issues include burning grassy areas to keep trees from encroaching, as desired by livestock herders; mismanagement of water resources; and snaring and poaching of wildlife for bushmeat. No large mammals remain in the forest, and species of duiker and monkey continue to be poached.
The Kakamega rainforest remains one of Kenya’s most important biodiversity areas. It is also a microcosm of the problems facing forest conservation in many tropical regions: overexploitation, degradation, overharvesting of wild species, and encroachment due to population growth. Climate change poses another challenge to the area, impacting reforestation projects and habitat improvement for affected fauna and flora as local, national, and international agencies work to overcome the human effects on the area. Researchers have recorded increases in local temperatures that pose a threat to the biome and those who depend on its resources. Local residents have been recruited for projects to develop and promote sustainable livelihoods.
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