Al Kags

I am privileged to be part of a wonderful team that is the Friends of Karura Forest, that is seeking to make that forest – which runs from Muthaiga past the UN headquarters in Gigiri and Runda and that covers Kitisuru and Ridgeways on either side.

The dream that we are working towards is to make that forest secure from the bandits that have been using it for their deathly activity and also the old mamas who have been destroying the forest – while giving the latter controlled use of the resources of the forest. Ideally, Karura should be a place that we all go with our families to climb trees, explore the groves and the waterfalls and help our children learn all about trees and how to use them well. While we play and frolick on the nature trail and explore the caves in which the Mau Mau hid when they came near Nairobi, people from the neighbouring Huruma slum community and the Karura community would sell us soft drinks and snacks, while others would guide us and teach us about flora and fauna.

There would be an educational centre on the other side of Karura – at the Shell Club (off the road not far from the Canadian embassy), where young people would learn vocations in forest management and eco-tourism (bird watching and so on) and the Kenya Forest Service would earn better revenues and we would all be joyful.

As I sat in an FKF meeting working on these details and plans, it occured to me that the Prime Minister, who has the support of advisers from the UN and other places, is right in being obstinate in pursuing the replenishment of Mau – at whatever cost.

We have had a glimpse in the last few years of just how badly the climate can change on us and how nature can kick us if we do not wake up and smell the looming fire. Hark, we have had a series of drought spells that have seen farmers in even traditionally wet places like Nyeri despair. 10 Million people faced hunger daily – a third or a quarter of the population – depending on the numbers on the yet released census report (what are they doing on that by the way?).

When the rains came, just around christmas, they came with a vengeance and flooded homes, carried away property and drowned people right across the country. What is interesting is that although their is an abundance of water, it caught the country unawares (despite the warning months ago by the met) and we are not collecting water – hell, we cannot anyway; we are too busy tring to literally stay afloat.

And in a couple of months, we shall be starving again.

We must all of us take the bull by the horns at a very personal level and get involved – not the government, not the politicians and so on, you and me, personally.

When I was in primary school I learnt about the cycle that starts with rain, evaporation, purification of the air by forests, condensation and more rain and so on….

It occured to me to wonder just how many hectares of land must be covered in forests to attract rainfall (in decent amounts) more regularlu. Any scientists out there know?

I am willing to bet, 4 Million trees at Mau will make a big change in 5 years max. I am willing to bed if we could achieve just a complete 30% forest cover in Kenya, we would see clear changes.

At a personal level though, I have one proposal. It is hard for us to think about millions of trees at once, That is daunting. But each of us comes from some shags somewhere. What if, we simply ensured that 30 of the land we each on has trees? Fruit trees are a good way to go because they are simple, hardy and straight forward – and ready food when hunger strikes!

What if we ensured we have 10 trees per acre, 5 per every half, 3 per every quarter, one per every eighth? All over Kenya?

A seedling costs between Kshs. 10 and 50 which we all can do. Would this not make a huge difference?

Yes, big dreams perhaps. But change never came without a dream.