Christopher Chesire
The aim of this project is to describe existing regeneration patterns displayed by the various structure-dependable woody species of moist afromontane forests in Rift Valley-Kenya, to understand the potential of these ecosystems in maintaining a healthy succession process; even with the presence of anthropogenic pressure. It will avail data necessary for sustainable management of the forests by suggesting silvicultural options for specific species, which may be facing conservation challenges.
Specifically, it will make species-specific and site-specific comparison of regeneration patterns; analyse and compare the floristic and structural characteristics of selected four forest sites; describe the population and regeneration status of valuable timber trees with reference to their ecological guilds; generate species checklists; suggest silvicultural possibilities or other forms of management for sustainable utilization of the Afromontane forests and help in building the capacity of community forest associations (CFA’s) for their contribution to forest management.
Tree nursery with indigenous species in Kaptagat forest.
My project will evaluate moist upland Afromontane forests in Kenya’s rift valley to elaborate on whether the forests can cope up with the existing high pressure of utilization and can successfully be able to maintain healthy proportions of its major species. Due to increasing human population, the limit of the production function of the remnant forests is speculative but could be overly stretched by now and this could jeopardize sustainability, especially of targeted timber species. The need for wood for construction and energy is genuinely high, particularly in the rural areas and is mainly being sourced legally or illegally from forest reserves. Inclusion of this fact in the discussions regarding forest management is important to adequately address utilization by communities.
In this regard, the project will evaluate regeneration and recruitment trends displayed by various species. Following an event of observed inconsistency, appropriate silvicultural suggestions aimed at bringing a balance will be developed. While acknowledging the complex nature of forest succession dynamics, this project will attempt to determine the proportions of species belonging to two ecological guilds, that is, pioneer and climax species. This is important considering in one hand that climax species, which are known for their hard wood could be facing threats due to their high preference. This will allow a gauging of their vulnerability. In the other hand, it will help in the explanation of the responses of the forests to logging. In understanding the structural attributes of the targeted four forests, a generalized near-accurate conclusion of Kenya’s rift valley afromontanes will be made with an aim of contributing to the ongoing review of the management plan for indigenous forests.
The project also aims at improving the capacity of community forest associations (CFA’s) for effective conservation and sustainable management of forests. This includes the promotion of preferred timber trees for woodlots at household levels. Some members of the CFA’s will learn simple vegetation assessment and monitoring techniques so that they could make contribution to the management of the forests. A detailed report on the status of these forests will be availed to the forest managers and the public to assist in conservation and for common knowledge.