AWF entered into an agreement with the Interim Coordinating Secretariat and Kenya Forest Service for the adoption of the Enderit Block. Under this collaboration agreement, AWF undertakes to mobilize funds and resources required to restore the degraded parts of the forest, develop a Participatory Management Plan for Enderit Block as well as to assist local Community Forest Associations (CFA) in the implementation of annual work plans as prescribed in the Participatory Management Plan. AWF also plans to implement forest based carbon trading through Reduced Emissions from Forest Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) mechanisms with alternative livelihoods to support climate change programming in the area.
Dr. Helen Gichuhi, President of the African Wildlife Foundation, highlighted that this agreement is the expression of a long term commitment by the Foundation towards the restoration and conservation of Enderit Block. She also mentioned the readiness of the Foundation to implement programmes with CFAs and WRUAs, as well as other stakeholders and partners. The signing of this MoU is part of the forest adoption programme that the Interim Coordinating Secretariat together with the Kenya Forest Service launched in early 2010 to secure the support of the private sector, NGOs and other Kenyan stakeholders to rehabilitate the Mau forest ecosystem.
This programme has been designed to complement the ongoing efforts of the Government through the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife and the support provided by development partners. Enderit Block is critical watershed for the last major river that flows into Lake Nakuru. Since the forest excisions of 2001, most of the rivers flowing into the lake including Njoro and Makalia became seasonal with the exception of Enderit River whose head waters are found in Enderit block. The degradation of the upper catchments threatens the ecological integrity of Lake Nakuru and its biodiversity, further threatening tourism. Lake Nakuru National Park is the most visited national park in Kenya and contributes 15% of the total tourism revenues. The restoration of Enderit Block therefore does not only protect the critical watershed for the river but also helps to secure the ecological integrity of Lake Nakuru National Park which contributes significantly to the national economy.
Dr. Julius Kipn’getich, Director of Kenya Wildlife Service, emphasized the linkages between tourism in Lake Nakuru and the conservation of the upper catchments, in particular Enderit Block. He reiterated KWS commitment to the conservation efforts in the entire Mau forest ecosystem and thanked all partners for their support.
