As regular readers (and hopefully some irregular readers as well) will know, 10,000 Birds is supporting conservation of the Endangered Sharpe’s Longclaw in Kenya’s Kinangop Highlands. And ’supporting’ is the key word here: as we’ve said many times before we’re not scientists or researchers and are not remotely qualified to be doing work ‘on the ground’ in Kenya. Instead what we’ve been doing is providing promotion and media coverage as well as supplying funds - much of which has come from our readers as well - for a one-year Small African Fellowship for Conservation to local activist (and hell of a nice guy) Dominic Kimani.

Dominic has been working extremely hard over the last twelve months, and as promised under the terms of the Fellowship, has been submitting quarterly reports for publication on 10,000 Birds so that everyone can clearly see what our donations are being spent on.

As you can see for the Report below, Dominic has been using a remarkable range of methods to get his conservation message across - and he surely deserves our respect and congratulations for fighting so hard on behalf of the Sharpe’s Longclaw and his community. (Of course, I’ve been privileged to visit Dominic and Kinangop four times since June 2008 and have report first-hand on the fantastically committed work Dominic has been doing and on the partners that Dominic has been building too - please visit FOKP for reports and links.) It’s been money very well-spent in my opinion and I’m proud on many levels to have been involved in the work with him and the rest of the Friends of Kinangop Plateau.

Dominic’s Fellowship is coming to and end now, but there is great news to report: thanks to the generosity of David Fox (a UK birder and conservationist who grew up in Nairobi) another Fellowship is about to be launched. We’ll be announcing the details very soon, and are at the moment organising an interview with David to get his views on the Sharpe’s Longclaw, conservation, and any advice he might have on how 10,000 Birds can further/better benefit conservation projects around the world…

Breeding-plumaged Sharpe’s Longclaw Macronyx sharpei. Kinangop, February 2009.

 

Environmental education in schools and community resource centre:

The month of April is usually school holiday in Kenyan schools. I did not visit schools, I organised community groups in the resource centre. On 4th April we had a community workshop discussing the alternatives farming methods. Together with FOKP members we explored all the recommended farming methods that are friendly to our Sharpe’s Longclaw.

Early this year the group received some modern bee hives from Pact Kenya, a USAID funded organisation working in Kenya. These hives are meant to be distributed to local farmers in the entire plateau in line with the group’s efforts to fight poverty and encourage wise use of grasslands, the home of Sharpe’s Longclaw. We had very good moments with the farmers. For sure the solution of conservation challenges is with people of Kinangop. The group intends to continue extensive capacity building. We need to change the attitude of people towards sustainable agriculture especially the farming that is birds friendly. As we have seen Kinangop could be the best place for wool production, if farmers have access to the right information, they can implement the best project that are not only environmental friendly but also support the livelihood of people and raise the living standard. Currently the level of poverty and in the area is very high.
In May I visited the following schools; Mugumoini, Ndunyu, Aberdare, Kinja, Grace, Kitogo and Kirarwa Primary Schools. I as well visted Kimuri, Kitogo, Gituru and Mumui Secondary Schools.

In the above schools I had a common message that is contained in the previous report in form of a powerpoint. This period coincided with the games season. I do have some environmental games that I learnt while in UK, we practised them, they are tailored to suit the current situation in Kinangop. Within the resource centre we have now come up with a youth programme that focuses in talent show to make our teaching more interesting. We now plan to have Kinangop conservation youth parliament, we shall hold debates and opinion session at the resource centre, we already know that young people are the best vehicle for conservation message.

Research on Pipits and Larks in Kinangop Grasslands:

From 1st to 10th May 2009. James, Bakari, Ndithia and I joined Professor Irene and her doctoral candidate from University of Gloningen, in the Netherlands in the above research. We were involved in identifying the areas for the study within Kinangop grasslands. Birds in the tropics are thought to be more prone to disease as compared to their counterparts in other parts of the world. This was a preliminary comparative study that is in its initial stage. Some of the results will be made available to the web as soon it is analysed. Some of the methods we used will be used in the ongoing Sharpe’s Longclaw research. For more information people can reach Irene on B. I Tieleman@rug.nl and to see her previous work visit her website on http://www.tielemani.fmns.rug.nl
We would like to thank Irene and Nick for working with us and donating two field guide books.

World environmental day Marked with Half Marathon and Tree planting:

June 5th and 7th were busy days as Bakari and I organised activities for the world environment day that are commemorated every 5th June. Ndunyu Njeru and Nyakio Primary Schools were selected to be the site for this year’s events. At Ndunyu Njeru which very close to Aberdare forest we joined the teachers, pupils and the local community in a tree planting exercise.

At the moment we are having serious problem with our water due to encroachment and deforestation, this has lead to lack enough water in our rivers and hence a worrying tread of drying up of lake Naivasha, which affect the local climate of the area. We have observed that over 40% of grassland birds nest are found in river valleys, with the current situation we have to ensure that tree are where they used to be, so that we can ensure our rivers have water which could have a direct relation to the breeding of Grassland birds. Over 250 indigenous trees were planted.

I am very pleased to report that we organised a very successful marathon in south Kinangop. The marathon was mainly sponsored by safaricom, one of Kenya’s Largest mobile Phone service provider. We were able to reach 15 primary schools, 7 secondary schools and over 1,500 community members. The message was ‘ Conserving Sharpe’s Longclaw from Extintion’.

Charlie’s Third Visit to Kinangop and the woolshop labels:

On 13th June 2009 we were lucky to have Charlie make another visit to Kinangop. In this particular visit we decided to change the route and started with Njabini, which is the southern part of Kinangop. We had planned with Bakari to take Charlie to the farmers where we buy our wool and carry out the monitoring of Grassland birds. I picked up Charlie in the morning as usual and we headed to Kinangop. With me were Mary Mwendwa and Willy Kimemia. We went straight to Kinangop. We were met by jovial Bakari on the way. We headed to Mr. Gichia’s Home, we were warmly welcome by the family and of course had a cup of tea which is a must in every home in kinangop. Visitors are always treated with great hospitality. At Gichia’s farm we were given the history of Kinangop all the situations the farmers go through, Mr. Maina Gichia who is a local guide took us round his fathers land. We saw all the activities happening there. Mr. Told us that he is very happy with the coming up Njabini woolspinning workshop, he said that, before they used to sell their wool at a throw-away price. He is now encouraged to keep more Sheep for wool. He was very happy for our visit.

From Mr. Gichia we visited one of his neighbour Mr. Wainaina. We were as well welcomed by the wife, their son took us round their paddocks. They told us that various Universities in Kenya have been doing some research on Breeding on their farm. They told us that they would be more than willing to train other farmers in the area. It was revealed to us that better breeds yield the best wool. We will organise with the Group on how we can be link other farmers how they can reach Mr. Wainaina.

There was happiness as Charlie delivered the long awaited labels. The Njabini wool shop now has a recognised identity. We are very pleased to have these beautiful labels. We want to take this earlier opportunity to thank all the people who have facilitated the production of the labels, these are funds that were spent where they were urgently needed. We also encourage all people to visit Kinangop and buy the wool products and promote conservation. We would as well like to reach all the tour companies to make sure they take their clients to Kinangop to see for themselves.

A donation of Data projector and honey jars to the Friends of Kinangop Resource centre:

I am very pleased to report that we have received a donation of a new data projector from Darwin initiative project through Dr. David Harper of Leicester University. I have worked with David in various biodiversity research and environmental education both in kinangop and in the Rift Valley Lakes. David has exposed me into the research world and I still continue to work with him anytime a research arises. We have been discussing with David how to develop environmental education in Kinangop. We are very grateful for the gift of the projector, it will be used in the environmental education. We equally receive d community conservation films some made in Kinangop, this will go along way promoting access to information on biodiversity conservation especially of our threatened biota.

We have also received honey jars from Dr. Harper, this will help improve the hygiene of our honey hence better market. Beekeeping is a core activity that we encourage in kinangop where land is being converted into cultivation and other unsustainable activities. We thank, Professor Harper for his consideration and continued support all the time. David has been working in Kenya for more than two decades, his email is: dmh@leicester.ac.uk .

Another boost for education programme:

We would like to welcome Mary Mwendwa into the Friends of Kinangop Plateau group. She will be the group’s information manager.

Mary works for transworld radio in Nairobi, is a famous radio presenter and an environmental film maker. Mary has produced a short promotional film for Friends of Kinangop Plateau and its activities in promoting Sharpe’s Longclaw. We will work with 10,000 Birds to see how it can be made available for bloggers. We all say a big welcome to Mary and we look forward working with her in her voluntary position.

Links from 10,000 Birds and the network of local and International bird guides:

10,000 Birds has put Kinangop on the world map. People from various parts of the world have been contacting us enquiring about our conservation work. We have had various people visiting Kinangop: as Charlie visited Kinangop, he opened the door for the rest.

We have had people with long-term impact towards our conservation efforts. In the last one month, James had a chance to take David from India around the country especially around Mt. Kenya and Kinangop grassland. He was also able to link David with other local guides in the country’s bird hotspots. David was very happy to visit Kinangop community resource centre. He gave a token of to the group for the education programme. Here at Kinangop we are very sure we can handle all sorts of clients for any part of the world. James is our main guide having spent more than a decade in the tourism industry; James has worked for famous tour companies, his decision to work as a freelance was highly appreciated as he is respected in the society.

As discussed with Charlie before, James has told me it’s possible to give 15% discount for every safari the group will organise with his assistance. We hope he will be managing our upcoming eco- tours within Kinangop and beyond. We would like to encourage more people to visit Kinangop.

Completion of Global Ecology certificate and joining of Africa Nazarene University:

For the last few years I have been undertaking a distance Learning certificate course in Global Ecology and Wildlife conservation at University of Leicester, through correspondence . Dr. David Harper had organised my sponsorship to do the certificate under his wise guidance. The course has been very useful in my daily work in the conservation field; I have been empowered with knowledge on ecology and general wildlife management. My visit in UK two years ago was an eye opener, thanks to Dr. Harper who offered me the chance. David and Maureen Harper have been in the forefront in facilitating my chance in the higher learning. While in UK, I had a chance to Visit Oxford, there I stayed at Avril Carson home, we discussed with her about my strong urge for University, she was very touched and vowed to help me raise some funds for a University in Kenya. I am very pleased to report to all that Avril Carson, my sponsor has raised Fees for one year in Africa Nazarene University.

To continue with my environmental Education, I will be taking my studies during part-time and during school Holidays, as discussed with Charlie last time, I will still continue with my conservation and education work, I would like to tell all our supporters that nothing will hinder me from doing the very best for Sharpe’s and People of Kinangop.

I will be taking a Bachelors degree in Natural resources management, this will equip me with the necessary knowledge to tackle the challenges we have in Kinangop.

I should have reported this before but it was not yet confirmed, hopefully I will start the programme in late September this year, I will work out the time programme, as this degree is flexible and can be done at my convenience.

Acknowledgement:

I would like to convey my gratitude to all the supporter of our work in Kinangop, especially the financial and material support. I must mention that Charlie Moores has always been there to see the success of conservation efforts in Kinangop. We are very pleased to continue enjoying the privileges of using your great blog. All what you do in Kinangop is marvellous. On behalf of the local community and the schools fraternity that I represent we say a big thank you. I also thank my Dr. Muchai and Luka for their guidance. Finally I thank the Kinangop community for the support they usually give, especially the land owners where we monitor the Sharpe’s Longclaw.

I want to apologise to all for not beating the report deadline as I have always promised, I have had some technical problems with my yahoo email, now things are ok.

Dominic Kimani, July 2009