This forest has been destroyed at an alarming rate, particularly in the last twenty-five years and has been replaced by numerous hotels, rental cottages and homes. Already there is a definite alteration of the weather patterns, local extinction and/or reduction of wild animals and indigenous plants as well as distressing aesthetic pollution.

There is therefore urgent need to conserve the little remaining forest and to rehabilitate the destroyed parts.
The Colobus Trust recommends, among others, the complete stop of all physical development in or other alteration of the forest. If any must be done at all, it must first undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment. The Trust is also encouraging the growing of indigenous trees rather than exotics. Further recommended is the appointment of the Colobus Trust as Environmental Inspectors to monitor and help to conserve the forest.

Figure 2 shows us the number of threatened forest woody plants occurring in coastal forests, compared to those occurring in other forest areas in Kenya.  See Fig. 2 to the right, threatened forest woody plants.  Note: Half of Kenya’s threatened forest woody plants are found in coastal forests.

Though the bird species in the coastal region are fewer overall than those in other regions, the region is of extreme importance because it harbours a much higher proportion of rare and/or endemic species of birds.  See Table 1 below - Threatened Forest-Dwelling and Forest Dependent Bird Species

Source: IUCN; further loss of forestland will result in the loss of very many species of birds, particularly the twenty-seven forest dependant species.

• Loss of habitats and nesting places – Diani forests form the homes of many animals including monkeys, rodents, birds and insects. The remaining few will be lost if more forest is cut down. The isolated tree stands left cannot support this great variety.
• Loss of food sources – not all trees in the forest are edible. Of the edible ones, not all flower, fruit or seed at same time. The animals in the forest, and particularly monkeys, have a keen knowledge of all the food sources at the different times of the year. The loss of such great areas of forest will greatly reduce the available food. The remaining patches will not be able to support the population.
• Loss of species – as a result of the reduction of habitat and food resources, there shall be more animal and insect deaths, to a large extent without replacement. This will lead to a reduction of the gene pool as well as gravitation towards non-viable populations within the foreseeable future. There shall also be loss of indigenous first growth trees, shrubs, herbs, fungi and other plant matter.
• Disturbance of the animal during and after building – animals dislike noise and will not go on about their normal lives when there is a lot of noise around. This will affect movement, feeding, mating and nesting patterns.
• Increased human wildlife conflict – due to deforestation, human wildlife conflict has increased on two different levels. One, is that due to the reduction in forage, the animals have been forced to look for food in hotels and homes. Second, human food tastes better, has a higher caloric value and is more filling. Thus the monkeys would rather look for human food than forage for long hours in the forest.
• Change of weather patterns – inter-views with the older people in the community reveal that definite changes in the weather patterns have occurred. They say that this change is towards the negative rather than positive; with less rain and more heat.

1. Mapping of the remaining Diani beach forest to record it extent, its owners, vegetation disturbance and other studies that will aid its management
2. Conducting socio-ecological surveys to find out the opinions of the users of Diani beach about the forests and wildlife within it with the view to using this information to lobby for forest protection.
3. Environmental conservation awareness for hotels and other properties in Diani. We are also offering them a botanical service where we advice them on the best indigenous trees to grow depending on their needs.
4. Environmental education for the local people through workshops. Among the topics covered are forests and deforestation, value of forests and forested areas, and individual roles in conservation.
5. Creating partnerships with commercial, governmental and land owners (like telecommunications companies, post offices, power companies, private land owners, etc.) to help manage land use for a longer-term and more sustainable future.  Creating longer-term agreements for forestation, creating more opportunity for contiguous forest coverage - in exchange for management and caretaking responsibilities.
6. We have a tree nursery with indigenous trees only. This is used both for education and to supply to interested parties.
7. Looking for funds to buy land within Diani Beach and create a sort of conservation area – Many plots have been cleared of all vegetation but have not been developed yet. Some of these belong to absentee owners and have been cleared by locals either for the wood or for farming. Such land can be bought and put in trust. The title deed should be under the Colobus Trust, but a clause be made that even if the Trust should stop operating, the land must never be put up for commercial uses.
8. We have put forth a proposal for the government to change development plant plan of area – currently the Kwale county council is doing a new district development plan. We are lobbying to have more protected forest land
9. We are trying to resolve monkey-human conflict so that people view them as an asset rather than pests, and so be encouraged to protect the forest for them.