Tag: community engagement

Raising seedlings of hope in Cherangani

Posted on by John Mwacharo
By Julius Kimani and Paul Kaino

In the Cherangani Hills, communities are leading a transformative effort to restore degraded forests and build resilience against climate change. In 2024, six Community Forest Associations (CFAs) from the area achieved a remarkable milestone of producing 700,000 tree seedlings in a year! This feat shows how concerted local action can spur forest restoration efforts. The CFAs – Elgeyo, Kessup, Cherangani, Cheptongei, Kapyego, and Chesoi – have established vibrant nurseries that nurture over 20 species of indigenous trees, including Syzygium guineense, Markhamia lutea, Hagenia abyssinica, Olea europaea ssp. africana, Juniperus procera, Prunus africana and many more. These nurseries ensure a steady supply of seedlings for forest restoration efforts while empowering communities with new skills and economic opportunities to create a greener, more sustainable future.

The journey to this milestone has been as transformative as the outcome. Through Nature Kenya, with financial support from the TerraFund for AFR100 project, CFA members have been trained in tree nursery management and provided with essential materials, such as potting tubes, wheelbarrows, hose pipes, watering cans, water tanks and piping, to support their efforts.

“Thanks to Nature Kenya, we’ve learned valuable skills to manage our nurseries and restore our forests,” says Mercy Chebet, a member of Chesoi CFA. “This achievement gives us pride and hope for the future.”

Beyond restoring forests, tree seedling production has become a lifeline for local communities. Selling seedlings to the restoration program, county governments, and private buyers has brought much-needed income.

In the Kessup forest, one of thirteen fragments of the Cherangani Hills Forest that spans Trans-Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties, the CFA raised over 400,000 seedlings and earned over Ksh 2.1 million through the sale of the seedlings. Similarly, Cheptongei CFA produced more than 160,000 and earned more than Ksh 4 million by selling seedlings to the project. “This income helped sustain our operations and improve our lives,” says Dr Thomas Chepkiyeng, Chairman of Elgeyo CFA.

Women have been key players in this success story. The Berur Women’s Group, part of Kessup CFA, has expanded its operations and created economic opportunities by selling seedlings.

The impact of producing these seedlings extends far beyond the nurseries. In April and November 2024, over 288,000 seedlings of 18 assorted species raised in the CFAs’ nurseries were planted across 290 hectares of forest, marking significant progress in restoring degraded areas inside the state forests. To ensure survival, the communities take care of the planted seedlings.

“On average, the survival rate of the planted seedlings is 80%, which is proof that our efforts are working,” says John Musa, a committee member of Cheptongei CFA.

Under the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (PELIS), communities have been granted access to degraded state forest areas by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), where they plant trees alongside crops, thereby blending conservation with food security.

The CFAs are not stopping at 700,000 seedlings. Going forward, they plan to expand production to one million seedlings annually while diversifying into flower and fruit farming. This ambitious vision underscores the communities’ commitment to conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

“This is only the beginning,” says Hance Juma, a forest station manager at Kessup Forest. “Anything is possible when communities and other stakeholders come together for a common goal – to restore our degraded forests.”

The Cherangani Hills Forest is part of a montane global biodiversity hotspot and a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). Cherangani, vital for biodiversity and local communities, provides critical ecosystem services as a water catchment for the Kerio Valley basin (Lake Turkana) and Lake Victoria basin, supporting domestic use, irrigation, industry, and hydropower.

Local youth step up efforts to conserve Cherangani Hills Forest

Posted on by John Mwacharo

By Julius Kimani

The Cherangani Hills Forest ecosystem is undergoing a remarkable transformation, thanks to the ‘Understanding Cherangani Links to Human Well-Being’ project. This initiative, funded by the Global Center on Biodiversity forClimate (GCBC), is empowering local youth to take the lead in conservation efforts while tackling pressing challenges such as biodiversity loss, poverty, and climate resilience. Nature Kenya is implementing the project as the lead in a partnership with the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Kenyatta University, and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). By combining traditional knowledge with scientific research, the project places young community members at the forefront of safeguarding nature and livelihoods.

Spanning approximately 100,000 hectares across Trans-Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, and West Pokot counties, the Cherangani Hills Forest is a vital water catchment area between the Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana basins. Designated as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), the forest provides invaluable ecosystem services, including clean water and cultural values. However, these benefits are under constant threat from deforestation, illegal encroachment, land fragmentation, and the impacts of climate change. Recognising that sustainable solutions must involve the community, the project is engaging local youth to help gather essential data that will shape future conservation strategies.

In May 2024, 34 young people were trained to use Kobo Collect, a mobile data collection tool, to assess ecosystem services and conduct Restoration Opportunity Assessments Methodology (ROAM). Through the workshop, participants developed skills in conducting interviews, recording observations, and ensuring data accuracy. Their role extends beyond data gathering—they are now key agents of change, bridging the gap between local communities and conservation efforts.

Collaborating with KEFRI, the project also trained 50 youth drawn from various groups, including Indigenous communities, Community Forest Associations (CFAs), and farmer groups. They were then assigned to conduct socio-economic surveys in forest blocks such as Kapyego, Chesoi, Kapolet, Kapkanyar, and Lelan. These surveys explored the impact of deforestation and land use changes on livelihoods, providing critical insights to inform Participatory Forest Management Plans (PFMPs).

The project’s impact extends beyond immediate benefits. Twelve youths participated in a rapid biodiversity assessment led by the National Museums of Kenya, where they collected data on plants, birds, reptiles, insects, and fish. Meanwhile, another group of eighteen youth studied pollination services to support a forest restoration business case. Twenty other participants assessed soil carbon levels to evaluate the forest’s role in climate regulation. Moving forward, these youths will play a crucial role in developing an Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EBA) strategy and action plan to tackle the region’s climate challenges.

Beyond contributing to the project’s goals, these young people are gaining invaluable skills in research, environmental conservation, and data management—skills that can open doors to careers in conservation and related fields. More importantly, their involvement fosters a deeper understanding of how healthy ecosystems contribute to human well-being, inspiring a sense of environmental stewardship.

Once the data collection phase is complete, the findings will guide scientists, policymakers, and conservation agencies in designing solutions to protect Cherangani’s biodiversity while promoting sustainable forest use. These solutions will be implemented at national and county levels, ensuring that the ecosystem and the communities that depend on it can thrive in the wake of climate change.

This project is about preserving a forest and empowering a generation to take charge of their future. By equipping youth with the tools to make a difference, the initiative is creating a ripple effect—turning conservation into a movement where nature and people thrive hand in hand. The Cherangani youth are proving that the future of conservation is bright, dynamic, and full of possibilities.

Engaging the next generation in vulture conservation

Posted on by John Mwacharo

By Brian Otiego

Every year, the first Saturday of September marks International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD), a global event celebrating vultures and highlighting their vital role as nature’s clean-up crew. This year, Nature Kenya observed IVAD, focusing on engaging school children in vulture conservation, specifically in the Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Kwenia landscapes.

Vultures play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by scavenging on carcasses, thereby preventing the spread of diseases. Despite their importance, vulture populations across Kenya face significant threats, particularly from wildlife poisoning. Vultures are often unintended victims when they consume poisoned carcasses intended to target predators like hyenas and lions, resulting in their mass deaths. Disturbingly, children have been implicated in some cases of wildlife poisoning, as they may resort to using common household chemicals like dry cell battery components to poison carcasses after livestock losses.

Ongoing education programs have been critical in raising awareness about the dangers of poisoning wildlife, particularly vultures. This year, Nature Kenya took the lead in ensuring that children in key landscapes like Amboseli, Kwenia, and Mosiro in Kajiado County and Maasai Mara in Narok County participated in the anti-wildlife poisoning campaign. To mark IVAD, Nature Kenya held school outreach activities at Oldorko Primary School, Sterling Academy and Olorika Comprehensive School, where children drew and coloured vulture-themed artwork. They also watched an educative vulture video and participated in interactive discussions. The goal was to help them understand the ecological significance of vultures and how their conservation is critical to maintaining balanced ecosystems. Through these engaging activities, over 1,000 children learned more about vultures and how they prevent the spread of diseases by efficiently clearing dead animals from the landscape.

These outreach events fostered knowledge and sparked a sense of responsibility and appreciation for vultures among the younger generation. By introducing children to the world of conservation in such an engaging and imaginative way, Nature Kenya aims to mentor a future generation of conservationists who understand the value of vultures in our ecosystems and are inspired to protect them.

In Nairobi, a significant step forward for vulture conservation was made to commemorate IVAD. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), in partnership with Nature Kenya and other conservation organisations, launched the “Vulture Multi-species Action Plan for Kenya (2024-2034)” a day before the IVAD celebrations. The action plan aims to address the alarming decline of Kenya’s vulture populations – down by over 70% in recent decades – due to poisoning, collision with energy infrastructure, electrocution and habitat loss.

The multi-species action plan outlines targeted measures to protect and restore populations of critically endangered species like the White-backed Vulture, Rüppell’s Vulture, White-headed Vulture, and Hooded Vulture. The plan seeks to mitigate threats by working with communities, conservation groups, and stakeholders to promote sustainable practices that protect vultures and their habitats.

KBAs in Focus – Taita Hills Forests

Posted on by John Mwacharo

Located in southeastern Kenya within Taita Taveta County, the Taita Hills forests constitute a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). Perched high on a series of ancient hills rising above the dryland plain, the Taita Hills forest fragments are like forest islands. These isolated forest fragments are known for their highest levels of endemism globally and form the northern part of the Eastern Arc Mountains. The forests include Ngangao, Iyale, Susu, Mbololo and Fururu, among others, managed by the Kenya Forest Service, while Chawia and Vuria are under the management of the county government of Taita Taveta.

The KBA provides crucial habitat for numerous endemic, endangered, and critically endangered species. Some species are found exclusively within this area, making it an Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) site. Notable species include the Taita Apalis, Taita Hills warty frog, Taita Thrush, Taita Hills purple-glossed snake, Taita Hills caecilian and Taita dwarf shrew.

Other globally threatened species reflecting the KBA’s critical conservation importance include the Taita White-eye, the endangered limbless Sagalla caecilian (which lives in the soil and leaf litter of the forest), the vulnerable small nocturnal primate known as the Taita Mountain dwarf galago (bushbaby), and the Taita blade-horned chameleon, among many others documented or yet to be discovered.

Despite the indisputable uniqueness of the KBA, it faces serious threats. These include rapid forest fires, mainly intentionally caused by community members clearing land for agriculture or due to the myth that forest fires lead to assured rainfall. The intensification of land use around the forest patches, driven by rapid population growth, has increased encroachment on the forests for agricultural production. Other threats include forest fragmentation, forest grazing, and climate change impacts. Additionally, the forests are threatened by an invasive species of dodder plant (Cuscuta sp.), a parasitic vine that grows rapidly, entwining and parasitising host plants, potentially threatening the survival of the forests and their biodiversity.

Conservation efforts that focus on preserving and restoring these diverse forest fragments are essential for ensuring the survival of the unique biodiversity they harbour. Concerted efforts by the national government, county government of Taita Taveta, non-governmental organisations, and local community members are evident. Taita Taveta County was the first to sign an agreement with the national government regarding the devolvement of forestry in 2013/14. The county has been at the forefront of developing forest management plans for Chawia and Vuria forest fragments and is actively formulating the forest and landscape restoration implementation plan (FOLAREP). The community, through a local conservation group known as the Dawida Biodiversity Conservation Group (DABICO), in partnership with Nature Kenya, is sensitising the community about preventing forest fires, discouraging the use of the dodder plant for beautification purposes, and participating in other initiatives such as ‘adopt-a-forest’ to enhance restoration of degraded forest landscapes within the Key Biodiversity Area (KBA).

Discover the Dawida Eco-resource Centre

Posted on by John Mwacharo

Nestled beside the lush Ngangao Forest in Wundanyi Sub-County, Taita-Taveta County, the Dawida Community Eco-resource Centre offers a sanctuary for nature enthusiasts and community members alike. Situated on a serene 1-acre piece of land, the centre boasts an array of facilities including a hall, kitchen, library, office, guest rooms, washrooms, and a camping site. Construction of the centre was funded by the Community Development Trust Fund and was completed in 2015.

Guests at the centre are encouraged to explore its environmental education resources such as guidebooks on birds, trees, and butterflies, as well as newsletters. While these materials are for on-site use only, they enrich the learning experience for visitors and locals.

The centre has conference and accommodation facilities which support the community through income generated from hall hire, accommodation and camping fees. Open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm, the centre is managed by dedicated volunteers from the Dawida Biodiversity Conservation CBO (DABICO) – the Site Support Group in the Taita Hills KBA.

A perfect starting point for bird walks and outdoor activities, the Dawida Eco-resource Centre is your gateway to nature and community engagement. Community scouts stationed at the centre offer visitors guided tours of Ngangao Forest at a small fee. Come explore, learn, and connect with the beauty of Ngangao Forest!