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Natural Vegetation and Water Conservation:
Nyeri, Kenya and Othaya, Kenya
Compiled by: Melissa Miller
Natural Vegetation of Nyeri and Othaya:
The regions of Othaya and Nyeri contain a variety of natural species that are
native to their specific area. Climate differences and elevation differences have created
distinctions between the two locations and their natural vegetation.
There are many native tree species to Nyeri that can be used to provide fire wood,
conserve soil moisture, fix nitrogen, serve medicinal purposes, and have edible fruits
and seeds. This agroforestry is certainly an area of high potential growth for Nyeri
(Vegetation Map of Central and Southwest Kenya, 2010).
Within the dry intermediate forest vegetation of Nyeri, there exists a native tree
species known as Combretum molle, or, Mlama and Msana in Swahili. This fastgrowing tree has high potential for use on a farm. First of all, the flowers Combretum
molle are said to attract bees, which help with pollination within the farm and may also
produce quality honey. The tree also provides an intense, slow burning wood which is
good for cooking and heating as well wood suitable for implement handles, fence
posts, etcetera. Another important quality of this tree is its abilities as a medicinal tool.
Plant parts such as leaves, roots, and bark each have been used to treat many
diseases from hookworm, snake bites, stomach pains and fresh wounds (World
Agroforestry Center).
Othaya, Kenya was found to be categorized as Moist Montane Forest type. Such
distinction indicates a grand diversity in the natural flora of the area, from herbaceous
plants to shrubs to trees (Moist Montane Forest Ecosystem, 2007). The grand scheme
of biodiversity within Othaya is highly valuable and should be conserved. Native tree
and herbaceous species provide food, fuel, and soil amendments, all crucial elements
to a healthy ecosystem. Othaya also contains sporadic patches of grassland and
wetland, creating an even more diverse area, highly suitable for potential ecotourism
(Moist Montane Forest Ecosystem, 2007).
It is important to take advantage of the natural vegetation available.
Varieties of tree species may contain valuable characteristics which can benefit
agricultural production and provide genetic diversity.
Existing and Potential Water Conservation Practices of Nyeri and Othaya:
Conserving the water available naturally from rainfall and within the water
table is crucial for the ever-worsening water situations of Nyeri and Othaya. Several
methods are being used on small scale to help retain the water during the dry season
but the spread of these ideas has potential to assist many in their agriculture and
domestic lives. Water retention coincides with soil conservation. This is because better
soil, including increased organic matter and biological activity, the more capable the
particular soil is of retain rainwater and nutrients. Existing methods in some areas
include rooftop water harvesting, retention pits, and reduced tillage (Flury and Geiser,
2002). Water conservation can be improved by agricultural practices including the use
of cover crops, replanting trees and rotational grazing.
Research analyzed by Flury and Geiser in their novel Local Environmental
Management in a North-South Perspective: Issues of Participation and Knowledge
Management depicts rainwater roof harvesting done by women in Nyeri. Rainwater
roof harvesting systems are primarily domestic on private houses or buildings. Systems
are comprised of a catchment system that funnels rainwater into a tank. Rooftop
harvesting has great potential as a clean source of water for each household. Although
this system may not help for production agriculture, it can help within the household by
cutting back time required for obtaining water for cleaning and cooking, thereby
allowing more time to be spent in the field. Rainwater roof harvesting is limited though
because of the resources demanded for it to function properly (Flury and Geiser,
2002). Rainwater catchment systems, therefore, are most sustainable for larger
buildings with greater financial resources, larger rooftops and greater storage capacity
(Rainwater Harvesting in Kenya).
Conserving water within crop production may require an adjustment in production
practices. Techniques including conservation bench terraces, fallow systems, contour
furrows, mulching, mixed and rotation cropping, and conservation tillage allow greater
infiltration of the rainwater into the soil and reduce runoff (Stott et. al., 2001). Each of
these practices is difficult to adapt when the main concern is survival to the next year.
When people have to live day to day to survive, having the perspective of long-term
sustainability is next to impossible. For these practices to be more feasible for the
average farmer of Nyeri or Othaya, adaptations should slowly be made.
Other practices which build up soil structure and preserve soil moisture include
cover cropping and rotational grazing. Overgrazing in combination with a loss of trees
is a major cause of soil degradation throughout Kenya and therefore should be
addressed immediately if the farmer has livestock (Stott et. al., 2001). Cover cropping
may be put into practice during the dry season to utilize the available water, hold
nutrients and soil structure, provide fodder for livestock and reduce erosion (Stott et. al.
2001).
Works Cited:
Flury, Manuel, and Urs Geiser. "Local Environmental Management in a North-South
Perspective: Issues of Participation and Knowledge Management." Google
Books. ISO Press, 2002. Web. 09 Feb. 2011.
<http://books.google.com/books?id=58xbzOjpdd4C&lpg=PA191&ots=HDyfR4zB
CY&dq=rainwater harvesting in Nyeri
Kenya&lr&pg=PA192#v=onepage&q=rainwater harvesting in Nyeri
Kenya&f=false>.
"Moist Montane Forest Ecosystem." Ecosystems of Ethiopia. Institute of Biodiversity
Conservation, 2007. Web. 09 Feb. 2011. <http://www.ibcet.org/ibc/ecosm/moist_montane.html>.
"Rainwater Harvesting in Kenya." Global Environmental Ministers. Minister for Water
Resources Management and Development. Web.
<http://www.unep.org/gc/gcss-viii/Kenya-IWRM.pdf>.
"Species Information." World Agroforestry Centre: Transforming Lives and Landscapes.
ICRAF. Web. 09 Feb. 2011.
http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/AF/asp/Species
Info.asp?SpID=566>.
Stott, D. E., R. H. Mohtar, and G. C. Steinhardt. "Rainwater Conservation, Harvesting
and Management: Kenyan Experience." Sustaining the Global Farm. Perdue
University, 2001. Web. 9 Feb. 2011.
<http://www.tucson.ars.ag.gov/isco/isco10/SustainingTheGlobalFarm/P089Mutunga.pdf>.
"Vegetation Map of Central and Southwest Kenya." Ecodiv.org. World Agroforestry
Center, 2010. Web. 09 Feb. 2011. <http://ecodiv.org/trapnell/trapnellol.html>