Calls for protection of Dakatcha woodland

Dakatcha Woodland Group members in Magarini, Kilifi County. [Caroline Chebet, Standard]

From a distance, forests in Dakatcha in Magarini, Kilifi County, look serene and lush in rainy seasons.

In dry seasons, they form a mix of grey and green impenetrable thickets of Brachystegia and Cynometra trees that form part of the East African Coastal Forests Global Hotspot.

Within the vast Woodland of Dakatcha, which spreads out to cover over 2,000 square kilometres, are rare and endangered species that place the place on the global map.

Together with neighbouring Arabuko-Sokoke forest, they are the only places globally where the endangered Clarke's weaver bird, also known as Kilifi weaver, is found.

However, the bird only breeds within the seasonal wetlands in Dakatcha, making it critical for its survival.

"Dakatcha is a critical biodiversity hotspot. Besides being one of the major carbon sinks on the Coast, it hosts some of the endangered species," said Patrick Changawa, the secretary of Dakatcha Conservation Group.

Dakatcha is a biodiversity hotspot and home to rare and endangered species like the golden-rumped sengi, also known as elephant shrew, which is only found in Dakatcha and Arabuko Sokoke, the Sokoke pipit, Sokoke Scops owl, Fischer's turaco and Southern banded snakes eagle.

But while the woodland remains one of the critical biodiversity hotspots that provides a lifeline to 13 species that have been Red Listed under the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN), conservationists say unresolved land issues within Dakatcha threaten conservation efforts.

"Issues surrounding land ownership and boundaries in Dakatcha should be streamlined for ease of conservation of critical species," Khahindi Baya, a resident said.

Although Dakatcha Woodland is recognised as an Important Bird Area, it has no formal protection.

However, conservation efforts by the local Watha, the local indigenous community members living in Dakatcha, led to the creation of community conservancies like Kamale and Kasikini, among others.

Within these community conservancies that form part of the Indigenous Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs), biodiversity is critical breeding and feeding grounds of Dakatcha's rare species.

"These are community efforts to be part of the global efforts to conserve these species, and that is why community conservancies play a key role," Mary Badiva said.

Without formal protection, Dakatcha woodland has faced pressures from clearing the forests to create room for agricultural land for years.

The woodland has also borne the brunt of charcoal burning. But land ownership issues in parts of Dakatcha make the conservation of species whose global populations are dependent on the woodland, a hurdle.

"Flagship species like Kilifi weaver, for example, only breeds in wetlands in Dakatcha. Sokoke scops owl is one of the smallest owls in the world and is dependent on the fragments of Coastal forests in Kenya and Tanzania, like Dakatcha for survival," said Changawa, who doubles up as an honorary warden said.

But local communities now say there is need for government to harmonise land ownership issues and boundaries in Dakatcha to allow communities to continue undertaking conservation efforts within the woodland.

According to Abadiva Guyo, land issues in Dakatcha should be resolved with parties agreeing to pave the way for co-existence.

Khahindi Masha Baya said resolving the Dakatcha land issues will pave the way for both conservations in areas set aside as community conservancies and farming in residential areas.

"It is all about getting to an agreement. How can areas set aside for conservation be fully conserved if there are issues surrounding land ownership," Baya said.