Land Degradation of the Mau Forest Complex in Eastern Africa: A Review for Management and Restoration Planning
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Date
2011
Authors
Olang, L. O.
Kundu, Peter Musula
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Abstract
The Mau Forest Complex is the largest closed-canopy montane ecosystem in Eastern Africa.
It encompasses seven forest blocks within the Mau Narok, Maasai Mau, Eastern Mau,
Western Mau, Southern Mau, South West Mau and Transmara regions. The area is thus the
largest water tower in the region, being the main catchment area for 12 rivers draining into
Lake Baringo, Lake Nakuru, Lake Turkana, Lake Natron and the Trans-boundary Lake
Victoria (Kundu et al., 2008; Olang & Fürst, 2011). However, in the past three decades or so,
the Mau Forest Complex (MFC) has undergone significant land use changes due to
increased human population demanding land for settlement and subsistence agriculture.
The encroachment has led to drastic and considerable land fragmentation, deforestation of
the headwater catchments and destruction of wetlands previously existing within the fertile
upstream parts. Today, the effects of the anthropogenic activities are slowly taking toll as is
evident from the diminishing river discharges during periods of low flows, and
deterioration of river water qualities through pollution from point and non-point sources
(Kenya Forests Working Group [KFWG], 2001; Baldyga et al., 2007). Augmented by the
adverse effects of climate change and variability, the dwindling land and water resources
has given rise to insecurity and conflicts associated with competition for the limited
resources. It is hence becoming urgently important that renewed efforts are focused on this
region to avail better information for appropriate planning and decision support
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Citation
Environmental Monitoring. Rijeka (Croatia): InTech Europe 2011