Location: Western Province Map
Area: 230 sq km
Kakamega Forest is a large expanse of untouched biosphere
located in a Western Province of Kenya. Kakamega Forest covers
an area of 230 sq km. Located in western Kenya, in the basin of
Lake Victoria, about 50 km north of the city of Kisumu, near the
border with Uganda. According to some reports, these are the
last remnants of the ancient Guineo-Congolian rainforests that
occupied the entire tropical continent. Part of the forest
reserve contains a unique and rich ecosystem of the highlands,
but in general it is poorly understood. The average height of
the territory is 1,500-1,600 m above sea level.
Average
temperatures change little during the year and amount to 20-30 °
C. The climate is humid, the annual rainfall is 1200-1700 mm.
The rainy season lasts from April to May and from August to
September. The driest months are January and February.
Flora
Together with the reserve, the total forest area is
about 230 km², a little less than half of which is the primary
forest. More than 350 species of trees grow in the forest. There
are also numerous clearings and clearings.
Ecological
problems
Despite their conservation status, forests continue
to be damaged and degraded. This region is one of the most
densely populated rural regions in the world, which leads to
strong forest exploitation. The local people of Luha use forest
resources to satisfy most of their needs. The German project
BIOTA East has been working here since 2001, primarily to
describe the species living here, as well as to search for a
strategy for the rational use of the forest.