Nobel Laureate Prof Wangari Maathai has become a patron of the Rhino Ark Charitable Trust.

This was announced in a joint communiqué from the Chairman of Rhino Ark’s Board of Trustees, Michael Karanja and Prof Maathai.

In her acceptance statement, Professor Maathai declared: “I feel honoured to play a role in the conservation of the Aberdares forest system, a forest that plays important socio-economic and ecological roles not only for the local communities surrounding the forest, but also for the global community through reducing global warming.”

Mr. Karanja said, “Wangari Maathai’s commitment to the environment and her well known stand for the conservation of indigenous forest as prime water catchment and as secure habitat for all forms of flora and fauna is world renowned. Her international standing and ability to mobilize, makes her an ideal patron of Rhino Ark”.

“The task of securing indigenous forest in the Aberdares has been one of Rhino Ark’s principal objectives and it has been successful. We have been successful too in leading the way to resolving human wildlife conflict for forest edge communities. Rhino Ark is currently working with various communities on projects to re-plant old areas of damaged indigenous forest caused by illegal and uncontrolled logging,” he continued.

“Rhino Ark works with willing communities to encourage non-exploitive activity inside the indigenous forest and equally to assist farmers to ‘think outward’ and to grow commercially viable trees on woodlots on their farms, thereby removing the unsustainable pressure on indigenous forest inside the fence line of the Aberdares. The Kenya Forest Act 2005 is abundantly clear that areas of mountain water catchment are to be preserved for indigenous forest,” concluded Mr. Karanja.

Prof. Maathai commissioned Phase Five of the Aberdare fence project – the longest and hardest section to build and totalling 82 kms on 25 November 2005.

During the ceremony she spoke of the essential values of indigenous trees, the conservation of the Aberdare forest, the flora and fauna within it and the importance of tourism within the Aberdare Conservation area.

Prof. Wangari joins the other patrons of Rhino Ark. They include Mr. Charles Njonjo, Dr. David Western, Dr. Sally Kosgei, Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick, Mr Jonathan Scott and the Rt. Hon. The Lord Aberdare KBE.

Rhino Ark’s main objective through its fence project is to conserve the Aberdare mountain range and its eco-system - one of Kenya's finest indigenous forests and its total habitat, resolve human/wildlife conflict by mobilising stake holders nation-wide and internationally for initiatives to protect and conserve the habitat, promote managed use of the Aberdares' resources for the benefit of present and future generations.