High in the hills of Kenya's Mau forest, some 20,000 families are facing eviction from their farms - accused of contributing to an ecological disaster which has crippled the country.
THE HEART OF KENYA
Mau forest is the largest in Kenya - the size of the Aberdares and Mount Kenya combined
10 million people depend on its rivers
They feed six lakes - Victoria, Turkana, Natron, Nakuru, Baringo and Magadi
Plus eight wildlife reserves - including the Masai Mara, the Serengeti and Lake Nakuru
The rivers have potential for 518MW hydro electricity - 41% of Kenya's total
In all, the forest provides an economic benefit of 20 billion shillings (£166m) per year (UNEP)
But already, a quarter of its 400,000 hectares have been destroyed by farmers and loggers
BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Life dries up in Kenya's Mau forest
