Mau forest complex is the biggest closed-canopy forest block in Kenya. It is the source of numerous rivers including Mara river which sustains the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.
Google Earth's timelapse feature gives a sorry picture of the forest's destruction since 1984.
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Mau has several forest blocks. The sections to the East, South and South West have suffered the biggest loss of forest cover since 1984.
The first timelapse shows the loss of forest cover in Maasai Mau, largely located in Narok County
The Mau East section in Nakuru county was almost cleared out since 1984, with only the highest sections along the Rift valley escarpment left intact
The picture is not any better in the forest blocks North of Molo all the way to Eldama Ravine. All these forested sections are along the western Rift Valley escarpment
This final timelapse shows the whole Mau forest complex and the change in canopy cover over the course of approximately 37 years.
Despite large scale deforestation, some reclamation happened especially in SW Mau and forest regeneration occured
Deforestation is largely caused by human population increase and the clearing of forests for agricultural land.
This situation is acute in Kenya where the growth of population outstrips the limited available fertile land hence pressure on forests
Kenya's population increased from 22M in 1989 to almost 50M in 2019. The increase is expected to be even higher over the next 30 years which will put pressure on natural resources.
Sustainable use of natural resources will be of critical importance during this time
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