Boni and Dodori National Reserves (20921)
Kenya, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Boni and Dodori National Reserves
Central coordinates: Latitude: -1.7167, Longitude: 41.1667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 100
Area of KBA (km2): 2136.30622
Protected area coverage (%): 98.02
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Boni and Dodori forests are separated by a road and stretch about 100 km along the road from the boundary where the forest starts (Near Milimani) all the way to Kiunga.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: The critically endangered Ader's Duiker ( this site is believed to be the most important site in Kenya for its conservation-which has almost disappeared in Arabuko-Sokoke); un-described Rhynchocyon sp, Boni-Dodori Sengi; Lion, Leopard, the rare Haggards Oribi, and coastal Topi. Other species recorded include Spotted hyena, Cape Buffalo, Common Hippopotamus, Suni, Waterbuck, Topi, Yellow Baboon, Gentle(Syke) Monkey,Vervet Monkey, Greater Galago, Aardvark, African Civet and Genet sp. The endagered Wild Dog and the endagered Hirola had ben recorded previouls prior to the 2013 survey. . A total of 283 bird species have been recorded from more than 61 different families. This include five threatened and six-near-threatened bird species;27 Palaeactic Migrants , 24 Afro-tropical Migrants and 16 East African Coastal Biome species.Additionally, there are eleven Forest Specialists and 31 Forest generalists. IUCN Red List species as at 2014. Endangered: Basra Reed Warbler. Vulnerable: Somali Ostrich, White-headed Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture and Martial Eagle. Near threatened: Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Bateleur, Crowned Eagle, Fischer's Turaco, Eurasian Roller and Plain-backed Sunbird. The East African Coastal Biome species were also recorded as indicated in the other section of the database.
Other site values: National Reserves. The Aweer Community Conservancy contain a few small settlements, farms and cleared areas. Recent fighting in Boni Forest may have altered the land use.
Delineation rationale: The administartive region is in Lamu and Garissa counties in far eastern Kenya.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The main habitat types identified include: A mosaic of forest groves, grasslands, and Hyphaene palm savanna, sometimes flooded, on white or grey sand; Dry forest with a few tall trees and dense shrub under-story on white or grey sand; Dense thicket on red sands; Acacia woodland, coastal scrub, scattered baobabs and small seasonal wetlands on white sand; and Wetlands including pools in river channel.( Forest=much of it in form of a forest-grassland-woodland-thicket mosaic). Wetlands and sand dunes are available too. The expansion of farming and vegetation farming -for planting of maize, cowpea, cassava. paw paw and mango trees. The slash and burn method is increasing within the Boni-Dodori area.
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 60 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 4 | |
| Savanna | 36 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Infrastructural developments because of the fight against militia from Somalia; Exploration for oil and gas along the coast; and proximity to the LAPSSET project. Expansion of farming and vegetation burning; the change from the traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle to agriculture is leading to the clearing of substantial areas of the forest. Illegal logging and pit sawing is ongoing within the forest, and is believed to be on the increase due to influx of people from Kilifi and Tana River Counties. Overgrazing; the grassland habitats are heavily grazed and grasses in many areas are also burned as a means of controlling ticks. Poaching; the presence of snares is an indication of poaching though the species being poached and numbers have not been established.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Nomadic grazing | Only in the future |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Only in the future |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Trend Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | War, civil unrest & military exercises | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Bennun, L.A. and Njoroge, P. 1999. Important Bird Areas in Kenya. Nairobi:Nature Kenya. Githiru, M., Njeri, T., Muthoni, F.K., Yego, R., Muchane, M., P. Giani, 2007. African Wild Dog from Northern Eastern Kenya: Recent records and Conservation Issues. National Museums of Kenya. Nairobi. McGinley, M. 2008. Biological diversity in the Coastal forest of Eastern Africa. Conservation International. Washington, DC. Musina, J.,Ng'weno, F., Mwema, M., Ngala, D., Ngala, M., Baya, A., Mlamba, E.,Mwinami, T.,Chesire, D., Alale, M.,Shizo, A.,Sawii, W., Mohamed, E., Binda, B.,Mohamed ,B., Mohamed, A., Hassan,A., Bett,J.,Tanner, D., Hussein,A., Gordon, C., and Rajan, A.2014. Biodiversity survey in the Boni-Dodori forest system; Kenya. Final report. National Museums of Kenya, Nature Kenya, World Wide Fund for Nature and Zoological Society of London. Mwinami,T., Ochieng,O.T.,Ngala,M., Odour, S., Musila, S., Kimwele, C. and Ng'weno F. 2013. Avifauna survey in Boni-Dodori National Reserves, Adjacent Forests and Community Land, North Coast, Kenya. Report for conservation Leadership program, Birdlife international, Conservation, Flora and Fauna International and Wildlife Conservation Society.
Contributors: Administration of the Conservation Leadership Program (CLP) for funding the team, Dr Kimwele-University of Nairobi, Simon Musila- Mammalogy Section-NMK, Fleur Ngw'eno-Nature Kenya, David Ngala and Johnson Kafulo (Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Guides Association, Jasho Bomu, Francis Kagema, Mohamed Alale Abala, Abdul assan Murisa, Shizo Ali Mohammed and Hadja Gurumaa and Mohammed Maloo.