Kenyan Forest in Danger of Total Loss
11/6/99
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Title: Kenyan forest in danger of total loss
Source: United Press International
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: November 6, 1999
A Kenyan Wildlife Service study reportedly says one of Kenya's best-
known and most beautiful indigenous forests is in danger of being
wiped out by illegal logging, marijuana cultivation, charcoal burning
and encroaching farmland.
The Times of London said Friday that the wildlife service report
identifies the Mount Kenya Forest Reserve as under assault "in a
process that could lead to environmental catastrophe," based on a
study involving 53 hours of low-level flights over the entire forest.
Mount Kenya is home to nearly 900 plant species, providing habitat
for six species of large mammal internationally recognized as being
of conservation interest. They include the elephant, leopard, giant
forest hog, bongo antelope and black-fronted duiker.
UNESCO listed the Mount Kenya National Park and its surrounding
forests as a World Heritage Site in 1997.
The Times said the study showed a complete picture of the destruction
to the park's forest canopy.
According to the news report, the findings showed more than 14,600
indigenous trees - mostly camphor, cedar and tropical olive - have
been brought down illegally. These are trees which can take as much
as 400 years to reach full height.
Other portions of the report, the Times said, showed some 800 acres
of the forest was cleared for marijuana growing and that large forest
sections were completely destroyed by charcoal kilns, fires,
livestock- grazing and the clearing of agricultural land.
The Times quoted the senior warden of the Mount Kenya National Park,
Bongo Woodley, saying forest damage was likely to be even more than
what could be seen by aerial photography.