Overview
Mukogodo Forest is not just a forest. It is a living life-heart for the Yiaku Laikipiak community-a place where culture, nature, and life come together. Spread across a vast area of over 30,000 hectares in northern Laikipia, Mukogodo is one of Kenya’s last dry forests, though more importantly, it is the ancestral home of the Yiaku. Working as a community-based organization, Yiaku Laikipiak Trust (YLT) dedicates itself out of deep concern for the protection, conservation, and sustainable management of Mukogodo Forest over the long term, so that it continues to be a cultural, ecological, and economic resource for generations to come.

Our Relationship with the Forest
For ages, the Yiaku people and Mukogodo Forest have been living a symbiotic relationship. Unlike the common models of conservation, the Yiaku see the forest as a sacred entity-a living relative, not a resource to be exploited. This ethos has shaped our identity and has been key to the sustenance of the forest in its pristine state. Our work in forest protection is grounded in this Indigenous concept of seeing the forest; it is guided by traditional knowledge mutually held from generation to generation.

Importance of Mukogodo Forest
Cultural and Spiritual Value
– Mixed festivals, sacred sites, shrines, and rituals still exist within the forest.
– The Yiaku language, rituals, and oral history are focused around the forest ecosystem.
– Traditional ceremonies and resolution of conflicts are still done under sacred trees.
Environmental Value
– Being a dryland forest, Mukogodo is crucial for biodiversity conservation.
– Hosts endangered and endemic species such as the African wild dog, African elephant, and Grevy’s zebra.
– This forest is also one of the major carbon sinks and serves as a climatic regulator in a drought-prone region.
Economic Value
– A source of sustainable livelihood opportunities such as beekeeping, herbal medicine, and eco-tourism.
– Provides non-timber products like honey, wild fruits, and medicinal plants.
Our Forest Protection Strategy
YLT undertakes a multi-pronged approach combining modern conservation science with Indigenous knowledge systems. The forest protection strategy includes:

1. Indigenous Knowledge Integration

We document, safeguard, and utilize Yiaku ecological knowledge, which entails seasonal indicators, the use of plants for sacred purposes, and forest taboos, in conservation planning.

2. Participatory Forest Management (PFM)
   Senior citizens, women, and youth of the Yiaku Community participate in forest decision-making processes, ensuring equitable governance through the CFA.

3. Sustainable Livelihoods Programs

We foster:

• Cultural tourism through forest walks, traditional practices, and storytelling.
• Training in value addition of forest-based products for higher income.

4. Environmental Education & Youth Engagement
   We are launching school programs, forest clubs, and mentorship by elders that nurture a new generation of forest stewards.

5. Advocacy & Legal Recognition
   Together with legal, National government,County government and international partners, Mukogodo is assured land rights, policy influence, and in recognition under Indigenous and community land frameworks.

   Major Achievements

   • Mukogodo has been recognized as a Community Conserved Area (CCA) by the regional authorities.
   • Yiaku Eco-School Curriculum was initiated to impart knowledge about forest ethics and climate consciousness.
   • Human-wildlife conflict has been mitigated through ranger intervention and the establishment of wildlife corridors.

   Collaboration and Partnerships

   YLT partners with:

   • Kenya Forest Service (KFS)
   • National Museums of Kenya (NMK)
   • Conservation NGOs such as Nature Kenya and the Indigenous Information Network
   • International bodies that promote Indigenous rights and climate action
   • Academic institutions involved in documentation of Yiaku language and ecological knowledge.
       “Together, we work towards Indigenous conservation to ensure that Mukogodo Forest’s custodians have the resources and acknowledgment to sustain its protection.”