ABOUT MAU EBURU
Size, Location and Geology
Mau Eburu forest is one of the 22 gazetted forest blocks that comprise the vast 420,000 hectare Mau Forest Complex, within Kenya’s Rift Valley. It is the easternmost extension of the Mau range and forms part of the Rift Valley conservation and ecology ecosystem stretching from Nakuru, Lake Nakuru National Park, the Soysambu Conservancy, Lake Naivasha, to Longonot and Hells Gate National Parks. Mount Eburu overlooks Lake Naivasha to the south east, Lake Elementaita to the North and Lake Nakuru to the North West.
The Eburu forest area covers 8715.3 hectares (87 sq km) of prime indigenous forest nestled within the folds of a geologically active volcanic mountain. The mountain’s highest peak Ol Doinyo Eburu stands 2,820 metres above sea level. The forest forms part of the catchment for Lakes Naivasha and Elementaita, with several ground springs, and is the source of Ndabibi River and other small streams.
Fauna/Flora
The area features a diversity of flora including various tree species such as Acacia, Allophylus (Mucami), Bamboo, Buddleia (Ruti), Dombeya (mukeu), Dovyalis (Mukambura), Ekebergia (Mununga), Galiniera (Mucina-Nguku), Juniperus (Mutarakwa), Maesa (Mundonye), Maytenus, Nuxia (Mucorui), Olea (Mucarage), Olinia (Mwathathia), Podocarpus (Muthengera), Polyscias (Mutati), Prunus (Muiri), Rapanea (Mugaita), Schefflera (Muthai), Solanum (Githua), Tarchoranthus, Vernonia (Muthakwa), etc.
In the forest habitat are found various bird species, including:
1.Bee Eater, white fronted
2.Bishop, Yellow
3.Boubou, tropical
4.Bulbul, yellow vented
5.Buzzard, Augur (common)
6.Buzzard, Augur (melanistic)
7.Chat, Ant eater
8.Cisticola, Winding
9.Cordon-bleu, red cheeked
10.Coucal, white browed
11.Cuckoo, Klaas'
12.Dove, mourning
13.Dove, red eyed
14.Dove , ring necked
15.Drongo, Fork tailed
16.Eagle, Martial
17.Eagle , Verreaux's
18.Egret, Yellow billed
19.Fiscal, Common
20.Fiscal, Long tailed
21.Fly Catcher, Grey
22.Fly Catcher, Paradise
23.Fly Catcher, White eyed slaty
24.Greenbul, Fischers (?)
25.Guinea Fowl, Helmeted
26.Ibis, Hadada
27.Mannikin, Bronze
28.Mouse Bird, Speckled
29.Robin Chat, Cape
30.Seed Eater, Streaky
31.Starling, Superb
32.Sunbird, Golden winged
33.Sunbird, Variable
34.Swallow, Black rough wing
35.Swallow, Mosque
36.Swallow, Wire tailed
37.Turaco, Ross'
38.Wag Tail, Pied
39.Weaver, Holubs' Golden
40.Weaver, Reichnow's
41.Wheat Ear, Schallow's
Mammals found in Eburu include:
1.Aardvark
2.Baboon, Olive
3.Bongo, Eastern Mountain
4.Buffalo, Cape
5.Bushbuck, Maasai
6.Bushpig
7.Dikdik, Kirks'
8.Gazzelle, Grants'
9.Giraffe, Maasai
10.Hyrax, Rock
11.Jackal, Silver backed
12.Leopard
13.Mole rat
14.Monkey, Black and White Colobus
15.Monkey, Sykes
16.Monkey, Vervet
17.Porcupine, Crested
18.Waterbuck
EBURU CONSERVATION STATUS & THREATS
The Mau Eburu ecosystem is essentially an island, surrounded on all sides by human settlement. Illegal logging and charcoal burning are long standing and ongoing problems that have critically depleted the forest cover. Indeed, for many years Eburu has been synonymous with the illegal charcoal trade in Kenya.
Eburu’s wildlife has been decimated by poaching/bushmeat hunting, loss of habitat and human encroachment. The eastern mountain bongo, a 
beautiful and majestic antelope species found in Eburu was once plentiful and roamed free within the steep forest slopes, enjoying a wide range. Over the years, however, due to poaching and the wanton destruction of its habitat the bongo was thought to have been wiped out.
Through the tireless efforts of the Bongo Surveillance Programme (BSP), it has now been proven that there is a small population of between 7-12 members of this species (now listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN) still remaining in the Eburu forest. The Eburu bongo thus comprises a significant percentage of the fewer than 100 individual Bongo thought to exist in the wild globally – the population is found only in Kenya. The BSP is a Rhino Ark supported community based conservation initiative.
ACTION NOW! THE EBURU ECOSYSTEM FENCE PROJECT
In December 2010, Rhino Ark made a formal commitment to support the conservation of the Eburu Ecosystem. At the core of this support is fundraising for the construction of an electric fence around the entire Eburu forest ecosystem. The fence project will be undertaken in partnership with the Kenyan Government, through its agencies Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Service.
Fence construction will be carried out by a highly experienced team from the Kenya Wildlife Service fencing unit, with labour sourced from amongst 
the forest adjacent local communities. The fence will cost about Kshs. 100 million to build.
As at January 2012, milestones achieved include holding the first stakeholders briefing held at Ndabibi Centre on 23 November 2011, and the on-site‘fence walk’ to determine the alignment of the fence, which has been calculated to be about 50 kilometres long.
Necessary project activities are now being planned and rolled out.
The construction of the fence forms one part of the conservation initiative for Eburu. Other components will include initiatives to raise awareness of the local communities about the need to conserve the forests as well as support for conservation initiatives within the forest and amongst local communities with a view to improving the livelihoods of the communities and reducing their unsustainable dependence on forest products and resources.
The Bongo Surveillance Programme, is crucial initiative that seeks to ensure that the precious few bongo that remain in Eburu are protected and given a fighting chance to survive in their home. The bongo can be viewed as a key indicator species for the ecosystem: the efforts to protect the bongo and conserve its habitat will ensure that the overall ecosystem receives the necessary level of conservation attention required.
Among the core forest conservation activities envisaged is the restoration of degraded forest areas through replant and maintenance of indigenous tree species within those areas.
There is growing public awareness of the critical nature of the challenges faced by the Eburu Ecosystem. This awareness has begun to draw support. Funding has been committed by: Safaricom Foundation (Kshs. 155 million in a 4-year grant covering fence construction, restoration of forest, support for community conservation/compatible livelihoods, etc.); the Kenyan Government (materials valued at Kshs 30million to be disbursed by the Kenya Wildlife Service); Finlays, the agribusiness with tea estates and flower farms in Naivasha and bordering the Mau Forest Complex (Ksh 4.6 million); and from Rhino Ark’s Rhino Charge fund raising engine.
Rhino Ark appeals to all supporters and well-wishers to join the cause and donate to save this threatened ecosystem, one of the last refuges of the Eastern Mountain Bongo.
