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Site description (2022 baseline):
Site location and context
Kirisia Forest Reserve is an isolated set of hills, dry cedar/olive forest, gazetted forest located in the arid and semi-arid land on the Leroghi Plateau on the western end of Samburu County, and lies on the northern part of Laikipia Plateau in the northern parts of Kenya. The forest is in proximity of Mararal town, which is 340 km by road from Nairobi via Nyahururu, and 470 km via Nanyuki-Isiolo. It is jointly managed by the Kenya Forest Service in collaboration with Kirisia Community Forest Association and Kenya Wildlife Service. Also known as Leroghi/Kirisia, Kirisia or Lorroki Forest, it was gazetted in 1936 with an area of 91,944 ha that comprise c.70,000 ha of indigenous, dry cedar/olive forest on the Kirisia hills, and c.20,000 ha of semi-arid and arid lowland bush. These fragile, isolated hills have relic vegetation from wetter times (c.3,000 years ago). Falling in Kenya’s largest drainage basin, Ewaso Ng’iro North, the forest is gazetted as a water tower although there are no permanent rivers. With a wide altitudinal range of 1273-2625 m, the forest exhibits a high degree of floral diversity where both dry montane, upland forest and arid scrub vegetation are represented. The area receives bimodal rainfall (range of 500-750mm p.a.) with the long rains coming in April-July and the short rains in October-December, but sometimes reaches 800-1000 mm in the higher elevations of the forest peaks where mist may also be experienced in June/July. January and February are the driest months. Temperature ranges between 100 C and 300 C. The north-west hills drop sharply forming the eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley while the eastern side of the forest is separated by c.46 km plain from the Matthews Ranges and Ndotto Mountains. The high elevation parts of the forest hold upland bird species which are largely cut off and miles away from the nearest central Kenya highlands that share similar species. Kirisia has also been identified as a critical wildlife dispersal route in northern Kenya.
Kirisia Forest has been described as a “Desert Island”. In addition to its variation in elevation and vegetation composition, this may no better be demonstrated by any other taxa than bird fauna. The diverse habitat structure in and out of the forest, varying elevations, surrounding grassy-woodland plains, and human habitations hosts a rich bird fauna at 374 species, a high potential for avitourism. The most diverse group are birds of prey with a total of 36 species. The forests are characterized by forest-dependent species (a total of 22 forest-specialists and 30 forest generalists), typical of Afrotropical highland biome forests such as Mt. Kenya and the Aberdares. Species found in the higher elevations include Grey Apalis, Lemon Dove, Purple-throated Cuckooshrike and Red-fronted Parrot. The lower plains are dominated by savanna species such Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse, Buff-crested Bustard, Fawn-coloured Lark, and a diversity of birds of prey. The presence of a permanent spring at Baawa, seasonal marshes and swamps and other form of wetlands attracts water-dependent species such as Mountain Wagtail, African Black Duck, Giant Kingfisher and Goliath Heron. Lake Kisima, located a few kilometers from the south-western edge of the forest, is seasonal. The Grey Crowned Crane and flamingos and waders (e.g. Pied Avocet) can be seen in Lake Kisima. Afrotropical migrants (e.g. White-throated Bee-eater, Red-capped Robin-Chat) and Palearctic migrants (e.g. Common Greenshank, Eurasian Marsh Harrier) enrich this list. Regionally-threatened species such as Lesser Honeyguide, Violet Woodhoopoe and Purple-throated Cuckooshrike are also part of this avifauna diversity. Vagrants from the Palearctic region, e.g. Cream-coloured Courser, may be seen.
Kirisia is a haven for biodiversity. It is an important habitat where 37 species of mammals have been recorded. Some of these are of global conservation concern, e.g. Grevy’s Zebra (Equus grevyi), African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), Leopard (Panthera pardus), African (Loxodonta africana), and Lion (Panthera leo). Others may be considered as rare and uncommon e.g. Aardvark (Orycteropus afer), Large-spotted genet (Genetta maculate), Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) and African civet (Civettictis civetta). Reptiles are represented by species such as African Rock Python (Python sebae), puff adder (Bitis arietans), serrated-hinged terrapin (Pelusios sinuatus), and the stripped chameleon (Chamaeleo bitaeniatus). Lizards and amphibians’ diversity are currently poorly known. The forest is also a critical habitat for Kenyan butterfly diversity with a preliminary list having 103 species. Some of the species present include Kenya’s largest butterfly, Regal Swallowtail (Papilio rex), and Constantine’s swallowtail (Papilio constantinus). The list of plant species currently stands at 450 species, with a potential for more species especially the lower plants (grasses, ferns and fungi) when further surveys are conducted. High levels of endemism for most taxa is expected when comprehensive surveys are accomplished. The Opiroi Cliffs are not only important for the Ruppell’s Vulture but are also a critical habitat for other species especially bats, and other birds such as Taita, Peregrine and Lanner falcons, Verreaux’s Eagle, and Nyanza, African Black, and Mottled swifts.
Kirisia Forest has diverse types of vegetation with a remarkable difference due to the varying altitudes. The highland part of the forest is dominated by a natural, indigenous vegetation that occupy 64% of the forest area, with the common trees being Olea europea ssp cuspidata, Afrocarpus falcatus, Juniperus procera and Cassipourea malosana. The lowlands, constituting the second largest vegetation type at 11%, are characterized by shrubs and bushes of Euclea divinorum, Carissa edulis, and Rhus natalensis. The rest of the area is occupied by a Cupressus lusitanica, Eucalyptus sp. and Pinus radiata plantations, bamboo, open grasslands and Acacia nilotica woodlands. The rocky areas include two cliffs, known as the Opiroi cliffs, where a colony of Ruppell’s Vulture nest and roost. Although the IBA/KBA boundary represents the gazetted forest reserve, efforts should be made to consider the sorrounding plains (e.g. Lake Kisima and Mbaringon Sanctuary in general) as important in maintaining integrity of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the forest, and hence conservation efforts should focus beyond the forest boundary. These areas also serve as wildlife corridors to and out of the forest, as well feeding and dispersal areas for wildlife especially large mammals and birds.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Since its gazettement in 1936, the forest’s condition remained in intact until a 1980 fire destroyed c.30,000 ha of vegetation, and degradation has continued since. A sawmill set up in 1973 harvested indigenous trees, especially Juniperous procera and Afrocarpus falcatus. It was closed in 1984 after the local community intervened. The main challenges facing the forest, in the past and currently, include livestock (over grazing), sandalwood poaching, forest fires, soil erosion, trees poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Among the locally threatened plant species that are extracted for various uses includes Juniperus procera (building materials), Olea europaea spp.cuspidata (livestock fodder and firewood), and Olea capensis ssp macrocarpa (livestock fodder). The drying up of springs, streams and rivers as a result of vegetation destruction is threatening the existence and survival of communities living around the forest, wildlife and livestock. Some parts of the forest had been settled but these have recently (2021) been vacated voluntarily following a sensitization and awareness campaign supported by a FAO/GEF project. These areas now exist as degraded areas but are being restored through fencing and tree planting. An increase in use of Opiroi and other cliffs for recreation and military training has potential to disturb nesting vultures that could lead to nesting failure.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
To address challenges such as overgrazing, the CFA has formed grazing committees to control and manage grazing in the forest.
The FAO/GEF project also initiated support for livelihood projects (e.g. poultry and honey production), and provided seedlings for on-farm agroforestry (to reduce dependence on the forest resources) and for restoration of degraded areas.
The community is also continously sensitized against the ill culturaturall practices found to directly harm the trigger species.
Through the CFA, trained and armed community members join the KFS in protecting the forest.
Kirisia Forest is protected as a national reserve.
The gazetted area is managed by both Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) while the buffer zone is within private ownership.
Site access / Land-owner requests
Site access permits are given through the KWS.
We acknowledge the immense efforts of the East African Willdlife Society (EAWLS) and stakeholders in initiating the Kirisia Forest deliniation process.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kirisia Forest (Kenya). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kirisia-forest-iba-kenya on 22/11/2024.
