Mau Forest is a forest complex in in Rift Valley of Kenya. It is the largest indigenous montane forest in East Africa. The Mau Forest complex has has an area of 273300 Ha.

The forest area has some of the highest rainfall rates in Kenya . Mau Forest is the largest water catchment area in Kenya.  Numerous rivers originate from the forest, including Ewaso Ng’iro River (southern), Sondu River, Mara River and Njoro River. These rivers feed Lake Victoria, Lake Nakuru and Lake Natron. Westerns slopes of the Mau Escarpment are covered by Mau Forest. These beautiful Forest is now under threat.

Will the Mau Forest be saved? Kenyan leaders and politicians, in a bid for votes, have always failed in reaching an agreement on the Forest; most have always put their political interests first, other than the Forest’s, and sadly that’s what they continue to do now.

They do this, while an environmental disaster waits for us. All efforts should be made to save the forest because it is the source of lakes and rivers. Scientific reports say Lake Nakuru will be the first to dry. 

Most Kenyan leaders and politicians know the dangers of not protecting the Mau Forest; but fearing in losing votes, they have always failed to act to save the Forest.

Forest destruction will be a major blow to Kenya’s biological diversity, since forests harbor 50% of Kenya’s plant species, 40% of mammal species, 35% of butterfly species and 30% of bird species – all on only two percent of the land mass. 

Logging in the Mau Forest will have a devastating impact on water quality and level in Lake Nakuru, home to the world’s largest concentration of flamingoes. Protected under international law (Ramsar Convention), Lake Nakuru may lose its economic value as Kenya’s second most visited tourist site.” GlobalResponse

And the downside, as stated by UNEP, could be worse: Kenya stands to lose a nature-based economic asset worth over US $300 million alone to the tea, tourism and energy sectors if the forest of the Mau Complex continues to be degraded and destroyed, the UN Environment Programme said today.

Isn’t it about time for real action? It could be already too late; but better late, than wait for the disaster that would be.

Article by Omar Basawad and John Karanja