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Steps to reforestation in Sagalla, Kenya

By on November 20, 2009 in Amphibians, EDGE Fellows, Sagalla caecilian, Uncategorized

The following blog update was sent by James Mwang’ombe of the Taita Taveta Wildlife Forum in Kenya, where EDGE Fellow Dorine is working to conserve the elusive, remarkable, and critically endangered Sagalla caecilian.

EDGE Fellow, Dorine Ngeti, attended a training course which took place from 10th August -23rd August 2009 at the Zoological Society of London in Britain. It was exciting going to Britain for the first time. However, the most exciting part was meeting other EDGE Fellows and getting to learn what they are doing and the challenges they face and how they overcome them. The training was also an eye-opener on some of the new methods and tools we can apply to better carry out our work.

Dorine is working on restoration of native habitat on Sagalla Hill, Kenya. She was recently involved with a tree nursery training session, which took place in Sagalla from 24th to 28th August.

The importance of raising indigenous seedlings was re-emphasized; the trees will be used to for rehabilitation to provide a permanent reserve for the critically endangered Sagalla caecilian.

Seeds of Millettia oblata an endangered and endemic tree species have been sown in the office tree nursery and potting of the seedlings is being done as shown in the pictures below. Milletia oblata is endemic to the Taita Hills moist evergreen forest, reaching a height of 3-21m; it has brown bark, corrugated, leaves with 9-21 leaflets.

The tree seedlings will be used to re-introduce this tree species in Sagalla forest, where it no longer occurs, and also as part of the effort to restore the caecilian habitat. The seeds had been obtained from Ngangao forest in Taita hills.

To support projects like this habitat restoration work in Kenya, please become an EDGE Champion or donate here.