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The Colobus Trust - Kaya Community Forest
Guard Programme was launched on 23rd October 2002. It is a collaboration
between the Colobus Trust, the coastal Forests Conservation Unit and the
elders of three neighbouring Kaya forests, viz. Kaya Diani, Kaya Ukunda
and Kaya Muhaka. Jointly, the goal is to promote conservation of
Kaya Forests in view of their socio-cultural, habitat and intrinsic
values.
The Kaya guards themselves are members of the community who have
semi-volunteered to keep watch of the forest so as to avoid its illegal
exploitation. Some have basic education, some do not. In common
though, they guard the ancient forests. These people guarding the forest
identify with it – they feel it belongs to them and their people and
thus they do what they can to protect it. Many people possibly may not
know the true value of the work they are doing.
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The Colobus Trust came in to help at a time when they were greatly
needed. The Trust funds the programme, ensuring that the guards get
their fortnightly allowances.
The Trust also organizes specific research to gather data that can be
used in the better management of the Kaya forests. These studies include
doing vegetation disturbance transects, animal identification and
boundary mapping among others. |
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Less than 2% of natural forest remains in Kenya. Yet, the minimum
needed for a country’s health is 10%. Kenya continues to lose
valuable forestland to agriculture, urbanization, settlement, fuel
and timber. This has led to an increase in cases of flooding, loss
of biological diversity, aridity and other forms of degradation of
both the natural and human environment. It is this background that
makes the idea of Kayas so refreshing and encouraging. In the midst
of all the destruction and excision, there exist forest islands that
are willingly and voluntarily taken care of by the local community.
The Colobus Trust and the Coastal forest Conservation unit (CFCU)
have joined hands in maintaining a programme for motivating the Kaya
guards (and elders) to continue with their good work. |
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The 48 Kayas of the South Coast are an integral part of the Mijikenda
tribes that live in the areas around the forests. The word Kayas means
‘homestead’ - they were originally developed as small fortified villages
which sheltered and protected groups of people when they first appeared
in the region 3 centuries or more ago, pursued by northern enemies.
During the centuries, Kayas became less important for protection, but
were used as sacred sites for rituals and burial grounds, where the
destruction of the trees within the Kayas was prohibited.
n the past 30 years the forests have been under threat from an
increasing population and a decline in knowledge and respect for
traditional values that the people held about the Kayas. Nevertheless,
the traditional Kaya elders were concerned about the deforestation that
was taking place in the Kayas, and the Kayas were recognized by the
government as having great biological significance which led to 23 Kayas
being gazetted as National Monuments in 1992. Since then, a forest guard
protection scheme has been in place, in which 1 or 2 of the local
community members, elected through by the Kaya elders, are responsible
for ‘protection’ of the forest. In the last few years, publicity for the
Kayas has rocketed, and the community has regained some of the lost
value for the Kayas. |
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How the Guards do Their Work |
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Dealing With Trespassers
- First offenders (minor offences) get a warning and have to
sign a statement indicating that they shall never repeat the
offence. They are also blacklisted. Second offenders are charged
under traditional laws and given appropriate fines, e.g. a
chicken, goat or cow depending on the offence. This would apply to
all irrespective of their authority or relationship with the
guard.
- Those engaging in logging activity, other major threats to the
forests and repeat offenders are reported to CFCU which takes them
to the police and courts.
Patrolling Techniques
- Using different patrol routes variably
- Hiding in the forest and listening
- Investigating seemingly innocent peculiarities eg. if they see
a some thin bushes that have been cut and left on the ground, they
move this and look under – it may be covering up a pile of
firewood or a trap
- Daily switching patrol times and routes
- Organizing occasional night patrols – to prevent night forest
destruction
- Organize random checks for forest produce/products in
homesteads/compounds near forests
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