FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about the Ngong Forest Sanctuary  
1.      A description of the Committee undertaking this project:   
2.      The region and community where the project will be implemented and the reason motivating the request for assistance:  
3.      What is the purpose of the project?   
4.      What will the project achieve, i.e. what are the immediate expected results of the project'?    
5.      Over what period of time will the project be implemented and how much financial aid is required? 
6.      What are the main activities of the project?  
7.      Who will benefit from this project and how will these benefits be realised? 
8.      How and to what extent will the beneficiaries participate in the implementation of the project?  
9.      When the project has been completed, what will their future participation be?

1.      A description of the Committee undertaking this project:
The Trust, established in 1993, has Board of eight trustees. The Minister for Lands and Settlement registered it as a charitable trust on 7th March 2001 by. It is a non-profit organisation. The Sanctuary has its own registered land title since 1997, and a signed agreement with the Forestry Department and Kenya Wildlife Services has given the Trust the mandate to manage the Sanctuary.   

2.      The region and community where the project will be implemented and the reason motivating the request for assistance:  
  • The Sanctuary is located within the city of Nairobi. It lies 6 kilometres from the city centre between the Ngong Road on its north west boundary, the racecourse to the north and Kibera Estate to its Eastern Boundary. It occupies an area of approximately 600 hectares and is unfenced.
  • The project area and other local forests are vulnerable to various threats predominantly due to their location close to a large population centre. Adjacent to the project lies the estates of Kibera and Dagoretti, home to possibly one million low-income people, who strive to make a living daily. The nearby forest is presently easily accessible to illegal users who collect forest products, mainly poles and firewood, but also medicinal plants and soil. Some also trap game. All of these activities are unsustainable and have resulted in continued degradation of the natural resource.  
  • In addition to there being an enormous demand for forest products from poor people living adjacent to the project site, there is a huge unsatisfied demand for outdoor recreational amenities. Nairobi is a fast growing city where there arc few open space areas and no new parks are planned.
  • It is the intention of this project to optimise the potential of this vast and untapped asset for the people of Kenya and to prevent an environment that is an important contribution to Kenya's heritage from the possibility of total destruction through example. This project has the potential to become a model for peri-urban natural resources conservation and environmental education in Kenya.
  • From a global perspective, this project joins and supports all projects that are fighting the battle to save our global forest cover, educate the world at large about the value of these precious ecosystems and raise awareness of environmentally sound practices and thus ultimately change the laws affecting forest ecosystems. It is for these reasons that financial aid is being sought.
3.      What is the purpose of the project?   
The overall goal is to preserve the existing natural forest and wildlife through self-supporting multi-purpose activities for the benefit of local communities and others. The objectives are

(i) to develop an environmental education programme and facilities,

(ii) to develop recreational activities and facilities and

(iii) to establish productive fuel wood and timber plantations for production of inexpensive forest materials.
 
4.      What will the project achieve, i.e. what are the immediate expected results of the project'?  
(i)  Preservation of natural forest. An increase in biodiversity and the enrichment of forest ecology.

(ii) Environmental education for many local school children and others. Increasing awareness of environmental conservation issues.

(iii)  Production of forest products from a sustainable source at low cost.

(iv)  Opportunities for employment for people from the Kibera and Dagoretti slums.

(v)   Provision of a secure natural environment for recreation and leisure pursuits for local communities. Recreation activities include camping, picnicking, walking and jogging, bird walks, bicycling and horse riding.

5.     Over what period of time will the project be implemented and how much financial aid is required?  
This project requires approximately USS 1 million and will be implemented over a period of five years in total.

Years 1-2 - Initial Development; fundraising and raising of public awareness, recruitment of key staff. Construction of perimeter fence and gates.

Years 2-3 - Basic infrastructure; physical infrastructure in place through the construction of basic administrative facilities and amenities. Development of education, recreation and plantation activities. Recruitment of remaining management team members (warden, trustees). The sanctuary will be fully operational.

Years 3-4 - Consolidation of Sanctuary; marketing of the activities available, management team and training. Construction of the education centre.

Years 4-5 - Expansion, consolidation and diversification. Self-sufficiency and partnering with compatible projects such as with ICIPE and ICRAF. Marketing of the activities available in the Sanctuary.

6.      What are the main activities of the project?    
(i)     Fundraising and raising public awareness.   

(ii)    Construction of infrastructure - perimeter fence, gates and car parks, education, recreation and administrative facilities.

(iii)   Development of the fuel-wood and timber plantations.

(iv)  Marketing and public relations.

(v)   Personnel recruitment - management and security staff and specialised consultants.

7.      Who will benefit from this project and how will these benefits be realised?  
(i)     Poor communities living adjacent to the project through the provision of jobs and inexpensive fuel wood. Approximately 50-100 jobs will be created by Year 5 and it is estimated that the plantations can supply 20,000 households with fuel wood for one year.

(ii)     Schoolchildren, adults and students will benefit greatly from the local environmental education facility. It is estimated that 5,000 children will visit the sanctuary each year.

(iii)  Nairobeans at large due to the easily accessible and secure recreation facility. It is estimated that 1,200 adults will visit by year

8.      How and to what extent will the beneficiaries participate in the implementation of the project?  
(i)     Plantation woodlands - in rejuvenating and replanting them.

(ii)    Through fundraising activities and events - to help raise money to fund the project, increase awareness, recruitment of volunteers.

(iii)  Employment - during construction of infrastructure and running of the sanctuary.

9.      When the project has been completed, what will their future participation be?
This is a project for the people of Kenya and upon completion, this project intends to provide some employment within the fuels and timber plantations and within the sanctuary as a whole as guards, management staff, teachers and guides. In addition, there will be opportunities to participate within the education programmes as well as to enjoy the range of leisure and recreation pursuits that the Sanctuary will provide.