Biodiversity in Ramogi Hill, Kenya, and its evolutionary significance

Abstract

The bulk of Kenyan forests are in the afromontane biogeographical region, but the Lake Victoria basin and its biota have been referred to by many biogeographers as an eastern fragment of the Guineo‐congolian forest. The Ramogi Hill forest in the lake basin receives an annual rainfall of less than 400 mm. Although much of its biota is typical of the Guineo‐congolian region, several species of insects, birds, mammals and plants have been known to occur in the lowland forests of the Kenyan coast. The presence of taxa in these forests has been attributed to past geological changes and climatic fluctuations during the pleistocene period. Migration and dispersal of taxa have been suggested to have been through Kenya Rift or via the southern route of Rukwa Rift. The biodiversity studies conducted indicate that Ramogi Hill has low animal diversity compared to other forests. However, the importance of Ramogi Hill may be linked to its biological resources, and cultural and religious values accrued by the surrounding local communities. The preservation of Ramogi Hill as a reference point for biodiversity and sacred sites will depend a lot on the influence and participation of communities in biodiversity conservation and management programmes.