Integrity of Mt. Elgon as a Biosphere Reserve, Water Tower and a Proposed Trans-boundary

Biosphere ReserveMakenzi PM.

Chair-Kenya MAB-NATCOMPresented to the “Mountains Workshop” at the 4WCBRs 14-17th March 2016, Lima. Peru.

Outline:-Description of Mt. Elgon-Hydrology-Biotic communities-Mt. Elgon as BR-Proposed TBR

Mt. Elgon Description

• Mount Elgony(Kenya) Masaba (Uganda) –one of the extinct volcano mountains  in East Africa  

• Height ‐ over 4321m above sea level (m.a.s.l). • The mountain range, lies astride the Kenya ‐ Uganda border 

and runs approximately in a North East‐South Western direction. 

• The mountain ecosystem occupies an area approximately 4,000 km2 within the Lake Victoria Basin in Western Kenya and Eastern Uganda. (MERECP, 2014)

Mt. Elgon ecosystemComprises of two biosphere reserve s, one on Kenyan side designated in 2003, and Mt. Elgon biosphere reserve on the Ugandan side designated in 2005.

HydrologyMt. Elgon Ecosystem is an important water catchment for both Kenya and Uganda

and the countries along the Nile basin. In Kenya, Mt Elgon is recognized as one ofcountry’s five major “water towers”.

• Hydrology of Mt. Elgon, on Kenyan sideSource: TBR GIS teams from Kenya and Uganda,  Map Projection WGS 1984. Measurement Units Degrees

Hydrology of Mt. Elgon on the Ugandan side

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M a jo r r iv e r sP a r k b o u n d a r y

V e g e t a t i o n T y p e sA f r o m o n t a n e F o r e s tA f r o m o n t a n e R a in f o r e s tA lp in eB a m b o oE r ic a c e o u sP la n t a t io nR e g e n e r a t io n

Mt. Elgon as one of catchments of the Nile Watershed

The Biotic communities of Mt. Elgon

• Mt. Elgon ecosystem is a habitat to 37 “globally threatened” species (22 mammals, 2 insects and 13 bird species).

• The Mt Elgon ecosystem is also home to 9 endemic animals, making the area a priority for species conservation.

• It is also home to 240 bird species• A total of 67 reptiles and amphibians are documented from 

Mt Elgon region • There is a total of 179 species of butterflies,  (Larsen, 1991; 

Davenport, 1996)

The biotic communities

Some Endemic birds in Mt. Elgon

Long crested eagle

Cape Robin chat

Alpine chat

Yellow whiskered greenbul

Mt. Elgon as UNESCO designated BRs in Kenya and Uganda

• Mt. Elgon ecosystem traverses between Kenya and Uganda. 

• Individual Biosphere reserves already exist within the same ecosystem

• Mt Elgon biosphere reserve on Kenyan side was designated in 2003 

• Mt. Elgon biosphere reserve on the Ugandan side designated in 2005

Proposed as a Proposed TBR (Elgony‐Masaba TBR) Between Kenya and Uganda 

• The Kenya and Uganda UNESCO –MAB NATCOMs  have been seeking to collaborate in enhancing the functions  of the two BRs by nominating the ecosystem as a TBR.

• Nomination of Elgony‐Masaba Trans‐boundary Biosphere Reserve (TBR) covering the whole Elgon ecosystem traversing Kenya  and Uganda is on‐going. 

GIS of the Proposed Elgony‐MasabaTBRGIS UGANDA KENYA

Drainage &vegetation

Zonationand admin.

boundarieas

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5 0 5 10 15 20 25 K ilo m e te r s

M a jo r r iv e r sP a r k b ou n d a r y

V e g e ta t i on T y p esA f r o m o n ta n e F o r e s tA f r o m o n ta n e R a in fo r e s tA lp in eB a m bo oE r ic a c e o u sP la n ta t io nR e ge n e r a t io n

Elgony‐MASABA TBR

CONCLUSIONMt. Elgon as a TBR will not only enhance  the functioning of the two BRs, 

but also will enhance economic development, environmental conservation and cooperation  of the two countries in their sustainable development endeavor.

THANK YOU.