Mount Kenya Forests

The Aerial Expedition of Mt. Kenya forests were conducted from February to June 1999. The main objective was to provide factual documentation on the extent and nature of human impacts on Mt. Kenya forests. The report triggered major policy responses at the national level.

Partners

Kenya Wildlife Service, UNEP

The Terrain

Mount Kenya, Kenya's highest mountain, is located on the equator. Forests cover the major part of the mountain.  Due to the wide range of altitude that spans the indigenous forest (from 1200 m to 3400 m) and the major climatic differences between the slopes, the forest vegetation of Mt. Kenya is characterized by a high diversity of forest types.  These forests provide habitat to a wide variety of fauna and flora species. 

Some 882 plant species, subspecies and varieties were recorded during the latest and more comprehensive study undertaken in the early 1990s.  81 plant species are known to be endemic on Mt. Kenya.

Six species of large mammal of international conservation interest occur within the Mt. Kenya forests. Also present are about twelve species of ungulates and various primates.

Mt. Kenya plays a critical role in water catchment and is one of the five main "water towers" of Kenya with the Aberdare Range, Mau Complex, Cherangani Hills and Mount Elgon, all providing most of the Kenya's water.

Mt. Kenya is the upper catchments for the Tana River and the Ewaso Nyiro River. The Tana River is Kenya’s largest river and drains into the Indian Ocean. Its course supplies water to numerous hydropower stations, as well as to major irrigation schemes such as Mwea rice scheme, Bura settlement scheme and Tana Delta irrigation scheme. The Ewaso Nyiro River drains into the Lorian swamps and is the main river crossing the semi-arid Laikipia plateau and the Samburu plains and deserts beyond.