Climate change adaptation
Seedbeds at Kilingile Community Tree Nursery
Last year, we partnered with Kitui Development Centre (KDC), a women-led Community Based Organisation, to restore the degraded landscape in Kitui County and reduce the adverse effects of climate change on the community.
Kitui County in Kenya is a semi-arid area characterised by unreliable rainfall patterns and high levels of land degradation as a result of deforestation for charcoal burning purposes. Thanks to funding from One Tree Planted, we are growing high value trees and adopting practices that enhance regeneration of indigenous forests-the primary source of water for their depressed lands.
Since 2021, we’ve planted 28,092 trees and engaged 221 farmers in tree planting activities.
Farmer planting seedlings he received through the project
We’ve also trained 94 farmers on how to establish and run a community tree nursery, seed sourcing and propagation, seedbed construction and grafting of fruit and medicinal trees.
Together, we’ve established three community run tree nurseries in Kilingile, Itulu and Kithambang’ii. Seedlings grown in these nurseries will be planted in the neighbouring community forest and on local farms.
Trees planted through this project will reduce soil erosion, improve soil quality and increase the agricultural productivity of local farms. Fruit trees grown will enable the farmers to create an alternative source of income and improve their own wellbeing as they sell fruits harvested in the future.
Community Tree Nursery in Kithambang’ii
Trees planted in the neighbouring forest will also serve as a seedbank for indigenous trees. The seedbank will be used to preserve rare and high value indigenous shrubs whose roots, barks and leaves are key ingredients for medicine and traditional cuisines.
On Earth Day 2022 we celebrated KDCs commitment to restore their local landscape and their efforts to improve outcomes for local farmers.
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