Kenya: The Chief Conservator of Forests was paid a courtesy call by the Eden Restoration Project. The team was led by the Project’s Country Representative, Joan Kariuki, the Africa Area Director, Andrew Kinzer, and the Chief International Operating Officer, Jeff Arensen, who extended its sincere gratitude for the continued partnership and collaboration with the Kenya Forest Service in support of the national efforts to achieve and maintain Tree cover from 12.13 % to 30% and forest cover from 8.83% to at least 10%.
Eden is a critical player in rehabilitating gazetted forest ecosystems through the Adopt a Forest Framework in Coast, Mt. Kenya, Mau and Nyanza regions and is honoured to be part of this noble cause.
The successful restoration of Eden sites has not only motivated KFS partners to support the planting of more trees but has also attracted more stakeholders who are interested in growing the trees and managing the sites until they are ready to be surrendered back to the service.
The Courtesy Call and sharing of the progress report provided valuable insights into the current state of the restoration efforts and the impact of KFS and Eden joint initiatives.
The areas of discussion included:-
Staffing and capacity of Eden Reforestation Project, Tree growing and Agroforestry success stories and challenges, Resources and sites mapping, Monitoring, Evaluation, Documenting and Reporting, areas adopted Viz as Vis areas planted, rehabilitated and survival count of planted trees, Framework of Collaboration and Addendum, Forest Landscape Approaches, Sustainable afforestation and alternative livelihood, technology transfer and efficient utilization of water, mapping, use of Drone Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Drones, job creation, employment and green jobs, concept Note Development and Technical Working Team formation with TOR, an improvement on Online Seedlings and Planting Reporting between KFS, Eden and Stakeholders, and unbundling and Unpacking the 30% National Tree Planting Strategy.
Also present in the meeting was the Ag. Commandant David Chege, Deputy CCF Dr Clement Ngoriareng, Head Legal Services Esther Keige, DCCF Beatrice Mbula and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dr Benjamin Kinyili.