Our high tech helpers
The survival of the trees we plant is paramount. Drones are our high-tech helpers who are playing a vital role in ensuring we plant trees that grow and thrive for generations. We’re proud of our strict monitoring and evaluation protocols, which ensure that we always achieve an 85% or higher tree survival rate.
But the most crucial element of our survival rates is the involvement of local communities.
At ITF, we know that empowering communities is essential for the success and sustainability of restoration efforts. From Kakamega rainforest to the great Imenti Forest, we work with local community groups to champion environmental monitoring.
Drone training sessions are a key pillar of our work, bringing together our high tech helpers and our community-led ethos to ensure our impressive tree survival rate.
Our drone training session ensure that community members are at the forefront of conservation efforts. From basic drone handling to data interpretation, these sessions equip the drone pilots to lead monitoring efforts in their areas.
In Kakamega, participants got hands-on experience with drone operations and were especially excited about using them to track invasive species like Psidium guajava. With their new knowledge and skills, the community is now actively helping identify areas needing more attention.
In Imenti Forest, this collaborative approach has been instrumental in combating the spread of Lantana camara, another invasive species. Aerial surveys by community drone operators reveal the density of Lantana infestations, enabling people to prioritise removal areas.
In Dundori Forest, we hosted community meetings where locals explored drone-generated maps highlighting the spread of invasive species. These visual tools brought the issue to life, sparking meaningful discussions on how to tackle it together. Now, the community is fully engaged in restoration efforts—clearing invasive species by hand and planting native trees in the areas that need them most.
This community-led drone monitoring is delivering incredible results. In Kakamega Forest, the focused removal of Psidium guajava has boosted reforestation success, restoring over 300 hectares.
In Imenti, community action has curbed the spread of Lantana camara, allowing native plants to regenerate and flourish again.
In Dundori, our collaborative approach has improved restoration planting in previously hard-to-reach hilly areas.
Drone technology is doing more than streamlining conservation—it’s equipping communities to become passionate stewards of the environment. By involving locals in every step, from training to data analysis and planning, we’re nurturing a shared commitment to protecting our planet for generations. .
The success of these community-driven initiatives would not be possible without the generous support of our donors. Your gifts help provide training, equipment, and ongoing support that allow communities to protect and restore their ecosystems and create a lasting impact on our planet.
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