Members of the Mt. Kulal community during a sensitisation session on the unique bird species found in the forest. PHOTO/EAWLS.
By PATRICK MAYOYO
The recent declaration of Mt. Kulal in Marsabit County as Kenya’s 70th Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) represents a scientifically significant step forward in biodiversity conservation, both nationally and globally.
This recognition, announced by the East African Wild Life Society (EAWLS), is not merely ceremonial. Rather, it reflects robust ecological evidence gathered through targeted ornithological assessments and conforms to international biodiversity standards developed by BirdLife International.
At the heart of this designation lies a detailed rapid ornithological survey which uncovered compelling data confirming Mt. Kulal’s critical ecological value.
Among the findings were populations of critically endangered bird species, namely the White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis) and the Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus), both of which are listed on the IUCN Red List due to sharp declines in their populations across Africa. The site is also home to 26 biome-restricted species, indicating a high level of endemism and ecological uniqueness.
Perhaps most striking is the presence of the Kulal White-eye (Zosterops kulalensis), a species entirely endemic to Mt. Kulal, meaning it is found nowhere else on Earth.
The existence of such range-restricted taxa elevates the site’s global conservation priority, as the extinction of such a species would equate to a global loss of biodiversity.
An Important Bird and Biodiversity Area is defined based on strict criteria developed by BirdLife International, including: presence of globally threatened species, presence of restricted-range species, presence of biome-restricted species and sites supporting large congregations of waterbirds or seabirds.
These criteria are rooted in ecological science and conservation biology. For instance, A1 sites serve as refuges for species at high risk of extinction and are essential for stabilising declining populations.
The presence of restricted-range species (A2) such as the Kulal White-eye indicates evolutionary isolation, often resulting from historical geographic or climatic events that led to speciation in isolated habitats.
Biome-restricted species (A3), on the other hand, are indicative of particular ecological zones, such as dry savannahs or montane forests, and help define the ecological integrity of a given biome. In Mt. Kulal’s case, this reflects its unique blend of montane forest and arid lowland ecosystems, creating a diverse range of ecological niches.
The ecological value of Mt. Kulal is further underscored by the habitat heterogeneity it supports. Located in an arid region, the mountain creates a micro-climatic refuge, enabling the survival of forest-dependent species in an otherwise dry landscape.
Such orographic effects, where elevation induces cooler, wetter conditions, are key to the persistence of isolated populations and endemic species.
This phenomenon is critical in the context of climate change. As global temperatures rise and arid zones expand, montane “islands” like Mt. Kulal serve as climate refugia, buffering species from environmental extremes and providing potential corridors for altitudinal migration. Conserving such refugia is a priority for climate-resilient biodiversity planning.
Moreover, the avian assemblage found in Mt. Kulal acts as an indicator of ecosystem health. Birds, due to their sensitivity to environmental changes and wide ecological roles (pollinators, seed dispersers, scavengers), are often used in ecological monitoring.
The presence of raptors such as vultures is particularly telling: vultures require large, undisturbed foraging ranges and their survival indicates a relatively intact trophic structure and functional ecosystem.
Beyond its ecological function, the IBA designation of Mt. Kulal holds significant socio-economic and policy implications. It strengthens the case for resource mobilisation aimed at tackling anthropogenic threats such as deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable land use, pressures that threaten both biodiversity and local livelihoods.
The IBA designation was part of the GEF-funded project “Strengthening the Conservation and Management of Mukogodo and Mt. Kulal Forests through Agroforestry and IBA Listing”, implemented by EAWLS and led by FAO-Kenya from February to December 2024.
A central component of this project was community involvement, recognising that sustainable conservation must integrate local knowledge, cultural practices, and livelihood needs.
Community stewardship models—where locals are involved in forest monitoring, eco-tourism development, and agroforestry initiatives, form a cornerstone of nature-based solutions.
These approaches align with global frameworks such as the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
Mt. Kulal’s new status opens the door to long-term ecological research, eco-tourism development, and policy-level interventions. The site may now qualify for inclusion in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and contribute data to global platforms such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and eBird, enhancing scientific knowledge and conservation planning.
Additionally, the area can serve as a natural laboratory for studying speciation, climate adaptation, and ecological resilience in isolated habitats. Such studies can inform adaptive management strategies in the face of climate change, particularly for similarly isolated or mountainous regions in Africa.
Mt. Kulal’s designation as Kenya’s 70th Important Bird and Biodiversity Area is not merely symbolic. It represents a science-based recognition of ecological uniqueness, a strategic opportunity for climate-adaptive conservation, and a call to action for integrated, community-led management.
As pressures on natural ecosystems mount, the protection of sites like Mt. Kulal will be critical to maintaining biological diversity, ecological services, and climate resilience across the Horn of Africa and beyond.
