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Tea in the Nyambeni Hills

As the tea farms encroach the ancient forest diminishes

By Remember the Goat

August 7^th, 2021

The Nyambeni Hills push out north east from the highlands of Mount Kenya into the arid plains that cover most of the northern half of the country. Their height and location (on the rainy side of the mountain) makes them lush and the volcanic soil makes them fertile. Over these hills a thick dense forest of trees, ferns and shrubs grew with abandon.

Tea

Of course this land is also good for growing crops, fruit and in particular the higher slopes are very good for growing tea. In the years since I have been visiting the area I have watched with sadness as more and more of this wonderful forest is cleared to make room for tea plantations.

Loss

Clearing vegetation on in the steep hills to make way for tea has led not just to the loss of irreplaceable ancient forest but also, inevitably, to landslides. As the habitat is stripped and the soil laid bare erosion has nothing to stop it. Once pristine equatorial forest is being lost forever.