Kenya: Chief Executive Officer of Better Globe Forestry, Jean-Paul Deprins paid a courtesy call to the Chief Conservator of Forests, Alex Lemarkoko. The meeting was hosted at the Kenya Forest Service Headquarters on Wednesday.
The meeting aimed to discuss the collaboration in promoting forestry agenda in Kenya’s Drylands. Better Globe is actively working in Kitui County, Mwingi Sub County. Better Globe wants to work with the IUCN and other partners on the Mumoni forest block, which is an important biodiversity area.
Better Globe Forestry has helped in promoting forestry in the drylands. The organization has played a crucial role in enhancing sustainable ecosystems.
BG is working with farmers to grow Melia Volkensii as woodlots. These efforts of the organization contribute to both environmental conservation and local economic development.
During the meeting, the CCF Lemarkoko expressed strong support for the future collaboration between the two organisations. The CCF said that it will help in improving the lives of local farmers. At the same time, the programme will also help in reaching Kenya’s 15 billion trees initiative.
Currently, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Kenya Forest Service and Better Globe Forestry oversees their collaboration.
The MoU will help in widening the scope of collaboration between these two organizations. The review of the present MoU will improve the welfare of more farmers and cover a wider area in the county.
Jan Vandenabeele accompanied Dr. Deprins to the meeting. They highlighted the work that Better Globe Forestry has done in Kenya in the last 20 years.
He said that introducing Acacia Senegal, a gum producing tree, has helped benefit farmers. They can harvest and sell gum in Kitui County. This has helped in improving their livelihoods.
Deprins also shared the organization’s plans to extend its efforts to additional counties, including Machakos and Embu.
The meeting was attended by several key figures, including PSDCCF Ms. Charity Munyasya, Ag. SDCCF FCM Dr. Clement Ngoriareng, Manager of Finance Anastasia Muasya, Manager of ICT Stephen Cheboi, and others.
This collaboration will help the organization in improving sustainable forestry practices and supporting farmers in Kenya’s Drylands regions.