Four years ago, Lydia Nyota and five fellow community members from the region surrounding Eburu Forest in Nakuru City, northwestern Kenya, embarked on cataloging the medicinal plants that thrive within its 8,715 hectares of indigenous woodland.
NAIROBI, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Four years ago, Lydia Nyota and five fellow community members from the region surrounding Eburu Forest in Nakuru City, northwestern Kenya, embarked on cataloging the medicinal plants that thrive within its 8,715 hectares of indigenous woodland.
For them, the process was deeply nostalgic -- revisiting plants from their childhood, rediscovering when they bloom, and tracing their scientific names.
"It was fascinating because, as custodians of the forest, we often assume we know everything about our plants -- until we start digging deeper," said Nyota, a resident of a village bordering Eburu Forest.
Nyota and her colleagues, all volunteer environmentalists from the local community, co-authored Common Medicinal Plants of Eburu Forest, a book documenting known medicinal plant varieties.
Their goal is to safeguard one of the Rift Valley's smallest yet most invaluable forests.
In the late 1990s, Eburu Forest began showing signs of degradation as surrounding farming communities abandoned their land and moved into the forest for survival -- harvesting honey, making charcoal, and logging unsustainably.
Before long, the forest buckled under human-induced destruction. Rainfall dwindled, wildfires increased, biodiversity shrank, and temperatures rose, according to community accounts and various reports.
This stark reality spurred some community members to action, initiating small-scale restoration efforts over the years.
Today, Nyota and her colleagues are recognized as champions of community conservation, even wearing distinctive attire that identifies them as such.
"Between 2007 and 2010, we received about three millimeters of rainfall. It left us in extreme poverty because our community relies heavily on rain-fed agriculture," Nyota told Xinhua in a recent interview.
The group's journey to writing the 81-page book began with countless strategy meetings on how best to identify the plants.
Nyota recalled the early days of mapping with a laugh, likening it to children exploring a park. "You had to walk with a notebook and pen to jot down important details," she said.
Pooling their collective knowledge, the team identified 200 medicinal plants within Eburu Forest, detailing where their healing properties lie and how to harvest them sustainably.
The book features striking images of various species, including Aloe secundiflora, known for its antiviral properties; Toddalia asiatica, used to treat stomach ailments; and Senna didymobotrya, a remedy for diarrhea.
Douglas Chege, a local plant expert and the driving force behind the book's content, led the team through months of fieldwork to ensure accurate identification of the plants.
"I was born here, and I grew up knowing these plants and animals. There's nothing I don't know about this forest," he said, crediting his knowledge to his parents, who were well-versed in its ecology.
Since its release, local conservation volunteers have been using the book in community education efforts, from religious gatherings to welfare meetings.
Chege believes the book will inspire greater forest preservation. "Many people in the village prefer herbal medicine. When you tell them a certain tree has medicinal value, they'll protect it and even plant more," he said.
Written in native terms alongside Swahili and English, the book is accessible to a wide audience. The project was supported by the UK-based Calgary Zoo, the Kenya Forest Service, and other partners.
Philip Kirifa, a resident of ex-Lewis in Nakuru County and a committed conservation advocate, said the book has enhanced his efforts to educate churches and schools on the importance of environmental protection.
"Since its launch last year, I've been using it to reinforce conservation awareness," he said, adding that it will also help schoolchildren develop an early appreciation for nature.
The book is available in bookstores around Eburu and at the local community forest association office, with plans to expand its reach.
According to the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, the country's forest cover has steadily improved, reaching the national target of 10 percent.■