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Site description (2022 baseline):
Site location and context
Dakatcha Woodland is found Kilifi County, Magarini Sub County, to the North of Arabuko Sokoke Forest (KE007), between 25 and 50 km inland from the coast. To the south, the site is bordered by the wide Athi-Galana-Sabaki River.
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species.
Several globally threatened and rare flora and fauna are found in Dakatcha Woodland. Avifauna include Clarke's Weaver Ploceus golandi, EN; Sokoke Pipit Anthus sokokensis, EN; Fischer's Turaco Tauraco fischeri, NT; and Southern Banded Snake-eagle Circaetus fasciolatus, NT. Mammals include Golden-rumped Sengi Rhynchocyon chrysopygus, EN (also known as golden-rumped elephant shrew). Plant species include Cynometra webberi NT; Pavetta linearifolia VU, and Warburgia stuhlmannii, VU.
The landscape is gently undulating, with woodland dominated by Brachystegia spiciformis, LC in the valleys and on the slopes, and Brachylaena huillensis, NT –Cynometra webberi, NT associations on top of the low hills, on red Magarini sands. Much of the useful Brachylaena has already been cut, since it is in great demand as a long-burning, smokeless fuelwood and for carving. There has also been extensive clearance of the hilltops for pineapple cultivation among other agricultural activities.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Regardless of its precious value, the woodland is on the verge of extinction. The area remains unprotected, with large swathes of woodland cleared for charcoal burning, pineapple plantations and settlements. Commercial charcoal production from Newtonia hildebrandtii LC (Mukami) trees is the major cause of destruction in the woodlands while Cynometra webberi NT (Mfunda) thickets are cleared for pineapple growing in red soils and Brachylaena huillensis NT (Muhuhu) trees are almost gone due to high demand in the wood carving industry. Today the major threat to Dakatcha Woodland is demand for land for large-scale plantations of Jatropha curcas LC (Mbonokoma). This plant has been promoted as a bio-fuel in Kenya. Clearing woodland to grow this fuel crop spells doom for the Dakatcha habitats and the species that live here. The government’s commencement of land adjudication since September 2020 ignited a ‘Land Rush’ in the region, leading to uncontrolled land uses and an unprecedented rate of forest destruction.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Buying off the woodland for Consevation reasons. The initiatives have been successfully done by A Rocha Kenya who acquired 1517 acres and Nature Kenya who have 2,573 acres. Launching of the participatory management plan 2015-2019 came at a time when it was needed the most. There is also an immense support from the community in ensuring that not all is lost.
The area is unprotected
Land in the woodland is under private ownership with few community conserved areas.
Site access / Land-owner requests
The land is under private ownership.
We aknowledge the conservation community for the unanimous effort in ensuring that the forest remains intact despite being unprotected.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Dakatcha Woodland (Kenya). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dakatcha-woodland-iba-kenya on 27/12/2024.
