Kenya: The Chief Conservator of Forests, Julius Kamau, today signed an addendum to the Adopt-A-Forest Initiative framework of collaboration (signed in 2021) between Kenya Forest Service, Muringato Community Forest Association and the Ministry of Energy’s Kenya Energy and Environment Social Responsibility Programme (KEEP) for the adoption of 100 Ha of part of Gakanga forest in the Aberdares Forest Ecosystem.
The addendum adds another 50 Ha to the tripartite rehabilitation project following the successful and ongoing restoration of the 100 Ha section of the Gakanga beat that forms part of the larger Embaringo forest block.
While assessing the survival rate of the trees, the CCF engaged with the forest-adjacent communities, who have been instrumental to the success of the project.
The community, through the CFA Chairman Mr John Karoki, recounted the livelihood benefits they have reaped through the project where youth were employed in the planting and maintenance of the seedlings and as community scouts adding to the ‘green army’ complementing KFS in forest protection.
Two community scouts representatives also gave a reflection on the benefits they have earned from the project stating how their lives had been transformed.
“Before the project, youth from around were idle and wasted time in shopping centres, but when the project came, we have been working on the site and earning an income,” recounted Ms Grace Shari, a community scout member.
While commending the commitment of all the partners involved in the restoration, the CCF underscored the influence forest-adjacent communities have in forest conservation and protection.
He further reiterated the gains that forests, when protected and sustainably managed, offer both to the immediate upstream communities next to forest ecosystems and downstream communities whose lives depend on ecological goods and services from the resources such as water.
The Service is currently on the fire-season alert caused by the prolonged dry season, and through the forum, I urged communities to safeguard forest resources against illegalities such as arson which is the leading cause of forest destruction in the country.