Eastern Africa Coastal Forest Programme: Regional Workshop ...

1.1 The NMK Coastal Forest Conservation Unit
The National Museums’ Coastal Forest Conservation Unit (CFCU) has been
undertaking a conservation programme for the Kayas with support from the World
Wide Fund for Nature WWF for a number of years. The Unit was formed in 1992 and
its work involves:
• Demarcation and boundary survey of important Kaya forest sites in consultation
with local communities in preparation for gazettement.
• Supporting local communities in the protection of their sacred sites.
• A public awareness and education programme to increase peoples’ knowledge
about the Kayas and the need to conserve them for their biological and cultural
heritage.
• Promotion, in partnership with other bodies, of alternative wood and other
resource development by communities neighbouring the Kayas to help decrease
utilization pressure on the forests.
• Promoting biological, sociological, cultural and other research to increase our
knowledge of the Kayas and Coastal forests in general in order to enhance their
management and conservation.
• Promoting the review and strengthening of National laws relating to heritage
conservation, and supporting the development of local community and other
institutions involved with Kaya and coastal forest conservation.
The CFCU received funding from WWF in two projects in 1992-4 and 1995-2001 to
support activities in the above areas. Some of the achievements of the CFCU in that
period include:
• 16 sites demarcated and surveyed, gazetted as national monuments bringing total
to 39
• A system of community guards selected by local kaya elders was established
• Facilitated the review of national heritage law by sharing lessons learnt from
community conservation activities
• Many rare and endemic species identified and catalogued. 48 sites covered. Over
3000 taxa in database
• Catalysed a revival of local community interest in traditional kaya culture
• An intensive awareness programme among schools and youth
And general public
• Facilitated the formation of active kaya conservation groups
• Treeplanting and beekeeping activities promoted. Ecotourism potential explored
• Worked closely with other government departments and non-governmental
organizations on forest conservation issues
Eastern Africa Coastal Forests - 46 - Workshop Report, Nairobi February 4-7 2002