Returning to Dundori Forest
Dundori Forest, located about three hours northwest of Nairobi, Kenya, is a vital highland ecosystem. However, many areas of the forest have been severely degraded – hillsides stripped of trees and lacking in wildlife.
As a crucial water catchment area, Dundori Forest is critical – the water that falls on those hills runs down into Lake Nakuru National Park, an important home for flamingos as well as black and white rhinos. But without forest cover, these fragile populations are under threat.
In 2022 I visited a degraded site in Dundori and witnessed the community's efforts to restore the landscape. They had planted native tree species across an area larger than Hyde Park, covering the hillsides with fresh seedlings – each of them was about knee-high at the time. The journey of restoration had begun.
Last month, I returned with our local team and the community to see the progress. What I saw took my breath away.
The trees had flourished, many now towering over me and the canopy is beginning to close, inviting wildlife like the endangered Mountain Ngongo antelope to return. I spoke with Redempta, who runs Wezesha, the community-based organisation we partner with. She shared how restoring the forest is vital for safeguarding this precious water catchment area.
Redempta tells James about the difference the trees are already having 2 years on from being planted.
We also met Teresia Wambui, a farmer, mother and dedicated ‘community scout.’ Her role involves checking on the trees, clearing weeds and working alongside other scouts to maintain the site. Thanks to their commitment, an impressive 85% of the trees have survived, and the ecosystem is now resilient enough that we can leave the rest to nature.
Teresia then took us to her farm, just 50 metres from the restoration site, where she showed us her newly installed fuel-efficient stove. As part of our holistic approach to environmental restoration and community support, we helped establish a local micro-enterprise to install these stoves for Teresia and her neighbours. The benefits are profound: the stove reduces the need for firewood, eases pressure on the forest and produces far less harmful smoke in her kitchen. When I asked her if she missed anything about the traditional three-stone cooking method, she responded simply: “Nothing is better about the old approach compared to the new stove.”
Beyond the stove, ITF has also supported Teresia in planting cypress and grevillea trees on her farm. Once mature, she can coppice - to cut back - them for firewood, further protecting the forest by reducing pressure on it.
At ITF, everything we do is rooted in community collaboration. Our focus is on creating long-term, sustainable benefits for both the landscape and the people who rely on forests for their livelihoods. Seeing these values come to life in Dundori was a powerful reminder of why this work matters.
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