Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Biosphere Reserves in the world. The national park and the forest reserve
were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 (UN 2008). Mount
Kenya National Park and Reserve cover approximately 2800 sq km. Mt.
Kenya National Park was gazetted in 1949 as a national park and covers
about 715 km sq. It is estimated to have over 800 recorded plant species of
which 81 are endemic to the area. Initially Mt. Kenya National Park was
a forest reserve. At present the national park is within the forest reserve
which encircles it (KWS 2011). The national reserve was gazetted in 2000
and covers 2124 sq. km.
The natural endowments of Mt. Kenya comprise animal species such
as elephants, buffaloes and the rare bongo, indigenous plants and the
mountain's scenic beauty. That is why it has been gazetted as a protected
area, both as a national park and forest reserve because of its conservation
value. The National Park covers the entire area above 3200 m
and the
protected area has now been extended to include the Mount Kenya Forest
Reserve, in order to protect the catchment area and wildlife. The Mountain's
biodiversity is one of the most valuable national and international tourist
destinations
in the whole country. Biodiversity is outstanding, owing to
the succession of different bio-ecological zones at close range, extending
from nival and afro alpine to forest and savannah. The summit area is a
major destination for mountain tourism in Kenya, including trekking,
mountaineering and game watching (Makunyi 2010).
Its picturesque landscape and its snow cap at the summit make it
appealing mainly to nature loving tourists from all over the world. On
average, Mt. Kenya attracts 30,000 tourists every year. However, more and
more visitation by tourists especially by uncaring visitors is threatening the
very fragile landscape by way of over use of climbing routes and littering
along the trails thus causing more and more stress on the routes, on animals
and on the vegetation (Kariuki 2005). Mt. Kenya is a major water tower
in the country and is the only free standing feature on the Equator with
glaciers. There are at present 12 remnant glaciers, all receding rapidly
(Fig. 8.2). With its glacier-clad rocky summits, Mount Kenya is one of
the most impressive and imposing topographical features in East Africa
(Plate 8.1).
Despite Mt. Kenya's scenic beauty it is not yet developed as a recreational
and tourist destination. Nevertheless, it continues to attract a large number
of both domestic and international tourists such as mountaineers, walkers,
bird-watchers and fi shermen (Makunyi 2010). The tourism potential of
the mountain's ecosystem and the adjacent areas has also drawn interest
from various actors such as private sectors (hotels and lodges), NGOs and
international development organizations as well as local communities. If
this becomes a reality, it will greatly boost the economy and employment
in the region. The development of new niche-based tourism products such
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