Ecological and socio-economic study on bamboo farming in the western mt. Kenya region

Abstract

Three community groups i.e. The Mt. Kenya-Burguret Conservation Forum, Thigu Environment Forum and the Help Self Help Centre have received a grant from USAID through the Kenyan Civil Society Strengthening Program (KCSSP), implemented by Pact Inc. and Pact Kenya to implement a 2 year project aimed at contributing to the restoration of the Western Mt. Kenya forest ecosystem through rehabilitation of key areas, strengthening community level institutions and promotion of nature based enterprises while increasing the incomes of the local communities from sustainable enterprises.Bamboo farming has been identified as a potential nature - based enterprise that will improve the ecological integrity of Western Mt. Kenya forest ecosystem, reduce poverty among locals by establishing and strengthening three product value chains (Bamboo, Honey & Lorena Jikos). The interventions are targeted to reduce forest dependence by forest-adjacent households and transformation of unsustainable agriculture as key sources of household income. The project intends to introduce bamboo on riparian areas currently occupied by Eucalypts along Burguret, Nairobi, Naromoru and Rongai rivers and on selected farmlands in the catchment areas The ecological survey assessed the plant composition and soil characteristics along four rivers i.e. Burguret, Rongai, Naromoru and Nairobi rivers. Pests and diseases associated with bamboo where also identified. Triplicate plots of 10m by 10m were established along the rivers and neighbouring farmlands. Plants present in the plots were recorded and a checklist developed. Composite soil samples were collected within the plots and analysed for pH, electrical conductivity, texture, Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosporus at the NMK Ecology Laboratory.