Reviving our roots

The forests around Mount Kenya are one of the country’s most cherished landscapes. And it holds a special place in ITF’s history as the foundation of our conservation work.

The ITF team recently journeyed into the Mount Kenya Forest ecosystem, with our esteemed Trustee Julius Kamau, to visit the many projects fighting to restore and protect this precious place.

Trustee Julius Kamau, former Chief Conservator of Forests at the Kenya Forest Service, planting a tree at a Mount Kenya project

More than just numbers

Since 2017, communities have worked with us to plant over 3.5 million trees in the Mount Kenya area, focusing on restoring its rich biodiversity.

Currently, communities are targeting the Upper Imenti, Kithurine, Irangi, and Maranga forest blocks, with the ambitious goal of planting 200,000 trees across 155 hectares this year alone.

But these efforts are not just about numbers; they’re about reclaiming the ecological balance of the forest and empowering the communities that rely on it. Through our partnerships with local community groups, residents are forming a sense of ownership and responsibility for the projects, ensuring their sustainability.

The team visit a project in Irangi Forest, joined by Madam Miriam from the Kenya Forest Service

During the team visit, we also visited the elephant maternity and breeding site within the forest. It was a wonderful opportunity and showed what restoring a forest can really do to help wildlife thrive.

A game-changer for communities

In rural Kenya, 90% of the population depends on wood for fuel, and harvesting trees for firewood has been a significant driver of deforestation. Our projects have introduced eco-stoves, which use less wood and emit less smoke.

These have had a great impact on the local community, especially on the women.

Women are primarily responsible for gathering firewood, but these stoves have reduced both the amount of firewood needed and the physical burden of collecting it. As a result, women now have more time to focus on other household and income-generating activities.

The community’s enthusiastic reception of the eco-stoves highlights just how important it is to integrate these kinds of sustainable practices into daily life.

Overcoming challenges

The restoration journey has not been without challenges.

A critical aspect of our work has been addressing the threat of invasive species, such as Lantana camara, which jeopardises the survival of newly planted trees. The ongoing fight to control these invasive species is crucial if native trees are to survive and flourish.

A community member clears invasive species in the Maranga forest block

In 2024, the Kenya Forest Service discontinued the Trees Establishment and Livelihoods Improvement Scheme (TELIS) to enhance its efficiency and monitoring capabilities. The scheme had enabled community members to plant and care for their trees alongside growing crops, which created a sustainable source of food and income.

When the scheme was discontinued, many farmers were deprived of an avenue for generating income, while tree maintenance costs have increased significantly. In response to this challenge, ITF has given funds specifically for the maintenance of reforestation sites and the aftercare of trees.

We’ve been able to do this because we have a Trees Survival and Sustainability Fund, which plays a vital insurance role in supporting the ongoing health and growth of newly planted trees.

Looking to the future

So much work has been done restoring the Mount Kenya region, but there is still more to do. Planting trees, nurturing ecosystems, empowering communities, and creating a sustainable future for all.

Donate

Help us restore the great forests of East Africa, and empower the communities that live there.