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April-June 2013
Friends of Karura Forest                        Newsletter
Community Forest Association
In This Issue
First Lady Visits Karura
Indigenous Tree Planting
Lily Lake Under Seige
Map Updates
Quick Links


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54%
The percent of ticket-paying visitors to Karura Forest who are Kenya Citizens.
Total number of visitors are averaging around 6,000 per month, a figure that typically includes 1-2,000 event attendees.
Thus, over 4,000 Kenyans and Kenya residents are enjoying walking, running, bird-watching or just hanging out in the forest.
Kindergarten Kids Setting Out
   Groups of school or kindergarten kids can be seen in the forest almost every day.
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 VISITOR NUMBERS
Visitors_through_Jun2013
KFEET Auditorium
KFEET Auditorium
(See lead story, right.)
Thanks to the generosity of Vivo Energy Kenya (formerly Kenya Shell) KFEET has converted the old BP-Shell Sports Club squash court into an educational auditorium. The auditorium comfortably seats 100 visitors to view films or attend lectures. It also houses a small office space at one end for the KFEET Education Officer and FKF accountant. Contact Lucy Njoka 0725 939093 for bookings.
Karura Animals 
By Night...
We now have three reconnaissance cameras deployed in the forest. More exciting 'captures' are revealing the amazing recovery of Karura wildlife. A few examples...
Baby Bushbuck
Baby bushbuck (mother on right)
 
Ratel
Ratel (Honey Badger)
Bushpigs
Bushpigs along Karura River
And by day...
 
Crowned Eagle
African Crowned Eagle carries off a Grimm's Duiker
Harvey's Duiker
Harvey's Duiker
Get a Receipt!
Spot Check
Please make sure you sign-in and get a receipt at the gate for entry fees and maps.
Security in the forest depends on revenue from events and gate-takings.
Your gate fees help maintain the fence and Karura Scouts.
Please retain and be prepared to show your receipts.
Many thanks!
Noteworthy Events
RHINOTHON 2013 
Roraract cycling
 The 8th annual Rhinothon fund raising event took place in early April. The day and night off-road mountain bike cycling marathon was "held in a secure, secret location near the Village Market." Guess where? 
 ---------------
BIZBAZ 'SUMMER' 2013   BIZBAZ 2013 The two-day annual quality shopping spree event attracted over 2,000 visitors despite the chilly June weather. 
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FKF ANNUAL GENERAL MTG
AGM 2013
FKF held its 4th AGM at Muthaiga Country Club on 3 June.  Chairman Karanja Njeroge highlighted major projects undertaken during the previous year, the recently signed Karura Forest Management Agreement with KFS, the significant increase of the number of visitors, and planned projects. The  accounts had been audited by KPMG, which is generously providing its services F.O.C. The standing Board was re-elected by acclaim with Sharad Rao assuming the second Vice-Chairmanship. The current Board composition may be seen here.
Run for the Trees
Run for the trees
More information here.
No Captions Needed !
No mud

Do Not Litter

Thanks for your cooperation!
Good Dogs, 
Good Owners
Good dogs, good owners
Most dog owners (in the main forest) are now keeping their best friends on leash unless in sign-posted off-leash areas.  A new map (see article right) shows the areas, along with the 5-, 10- and 15-km running and walking trails. 
Please Read Dog Guidelines
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Karura Facts?

Greetings!

A cold and gloomy 'winter' season in Nairobi hasn't deterred visitors from all walks of Kenyan life from visiting Karura Forest. Visitor number remain high (see sidebar left), and thousands of indigenous trees have been planted by corporates and kids alike.
 
Thanks to your efforts, and the dedication of a small executive group of volunteer stakeholders working with the Kenya Forest Service, Karura Forest has  become a local and international success story.
 
The KFS Director has said on more than one occasion that his service is pointing to FKF as a model Community Forest Association for all of Kenya's forested areas.
 
And internationally, Kenya can boast its very own world-class urban green space. Only the Khimki Forest in Moscow and the Bois de Boulogne in Paris match Karura in importance. 
 
Karura Forest is on the world map, and for all the right reasons.
 
Friends of Karura Forest  
H.E. Margaret Kenyatta Visits Karura
First Lady Presides over
Inauguration of KFEET Auditorium

HE Margaret Kenyatta at Karura
HE Margaret Kenyatta presented with a photo of the Karura River waterfall. L to R, Prof. Karanja Njoroge,

Narendra Manekchand Shah, Wanjira Maathai,
Polycarp Igathe, Director Vivo Energy Kenya

 

HE cuts ribbon
Cutting the ribbon. Looking on:
Rajesh Shah, FKF Board,

Rajiv Zaverchand Rajan chairman of Oshwal Education & Relief Board, Camille Wekesa, FKF Secretary

Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta , the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya on 2nd June 2013 presided over the KFEET Auditorium inauguration.

 

Many dignitaries were present, such as the Hon. Judi Wakhungu (Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Water and Natural Resources), the Chairman of the Board and the Director of KFS, Senior officers from major Corporate Sponsors such as Kenya Shell (now Vivo Energy), Barclays Bank, Davis & Shirtliff, the Board Members of the Oshwal Education and Relief Board, KFEET (Karura Forest Environment Education Trust), Friends of Karura Forest, neighbouring Residents' Associations, officials from the Greenbelt Movement, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and UNEP.

 

HE address In her speech, the First Lady lauded the work of the late Wangari Maathai, noted that in her fight for the environment in general and Karura in particular, she had left an unparalleled legacy that will always be remembered and serve to inspire future generations to cherish and care for the environment that nourishes us.

  

Indigenous Tree Planting
Kenyan Corporates, Schools take the Lead 

Thousands of seedlings have been planted at key sites chosen by FKF in the forest as part of the long-term plan to replace exotic plantation species with indigenous tree species and return Karura to its original upland forest type.  
Davis & Shirtliff Davis & Shirtliff executives, staff and family planted 1,100 trees as part of their Founder's Day 2013 celebrations in Karura Forest in late May. Pumps were donated and plenty of water was provided to get the young trees going. More photos can be seen here.

D & S watering
Other corporate, charity and educational institutions that sponsored and actively participated in tree-planting in Karura Forest during the March/April rains include: 
  • The Coca-Cola Company, East and Central Africa,  as part of its campaign Africa Let's Go Crazy (500 seedlings).
  • Aureos Kenya Managers Limited (1,100 seedlings)
  • Lavington United Church and Lavington United Academy (200 seedlings)
  • Kenya Accreditation Services (KENAS) (50 seedlings)
  • International School of Kenya
  • Braeburn School 
  • St Lawrence University Kenya Summer Program
  • Cheleta and Karura Primary School (500 seedlings)  
  • The Village Market (see below)
Village Market cheque
Village Market managing director Hamed Ehsani presents a cheque to Chantal Mariotte, FKF Board member on World Environment Day, 5 June. The Village Market has pledged KES 2.07 million for planting 9,000 indigenous trees in Karura. 500 pupils from Runda's Cheleta Primary School look on.

Many thanks to all for the continuing support.  

Lily Lake Under Seige
Aquatic Invasive Tries To Take Hold
Salvinia in Lily Lake
Salvinia caught speading
Almost overnight, Lily Lake has been 'attacked' by an invasive water weed called, appropriately enough, Salvina molesta, or Kariba Weed, even though it originates in Brazil. 
 
It's actually a fern and capable of doubling its dry weight every two and a half days. The lake was in real danger of being choked
 
But thanks to the fast work of FKF Scouts, the weed is being repulsed physically as we look for other, more effective methods.
 
Anyone care to take off your shoes and give them a hand? 
Scouts fight Salvinia
FKF Scouts fighting Salvinia

Map Updates
New Map Shows Running Trails, Dogs-Off-Leash Areas
Running, Walking, Dogs-off-leash
A modified version of the Karura Forest map will be available on display at main gates to show the 5-, 10- and 15-kilometre running-walking trails. The trails are already marked on the ground with colour-coded signposts kindly donated by Pelican Plastics.
 
The new map also clearly shows which routes are designated as Dogs-Off-Leash. On all other tracks, owners should cooperate by keeping their dogs on-leash. A larger version of the map can be seen on the FKF website by clicking here.
 
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Off Muiri Trail
On Muiri Trail, looking West between 10 and 11
More Karura photos may be seen here
.
Although we share Prof. Wangari Maathai's concern about overwhelming Karura with its own success (see Visitor Numbers in sidebar), the forest seems to be coping.
 
Some species (like bushbucks and clawless otters) may be inclined to become more nocturnal than normal to avoid contact with visitors, but the wildlife populations are obviously recovering and breeding well. The night cameras are capturing more and more young animals.
 
The possibility of 'overpopulation' of herbivores under the new regime of protection is still remote in this recovery period. We are now seeing 'top predators', like the African Crowned Eagle, Ratel and Rock Python. And we wonder who will be the first to spot a Leopard? (Another good reason to keep your dogs on leash except in designated areas!)
 
The 'Karura renaissance' is helping to ensure clean air and water for Nairobi, and should be a source of immense pride and gratification for all Kenyans.

 

Sincerely,
The Board of Friends of Karura Forest
Join the Friends of Karura Forest
Membership is open to all persons, organisations and corporations who support the FKF mission to protect, manage and enhance the Karura Forest Reserve. 

 

Members enjoy reduced Annual Pass fees: click here to see the types of membership and view rates. 

You can sign up at the KFEET (Karura Forest Environment Education Trust) Centre (the former BP-Shell Sports Club in the main forest), or stop by the FKF secretariat office in Muthaiga (address below).

Activities in the Karura
KARURA FOREST - SECURE, SAFE, SERENE