The unsung heroes of forest restoration

Blog post

5 Sept

Written By International Tree Foundation

In Nakuru County, Kenya, a group of dedicated community members are monitoring and protecting newly planted trees in Dundori Forest.

For over a year now, we’ve been working with hundreds of community members in Nakuru County to restore Dundori Forest. And so far, over 200,000 native tree species are steadily growing with more to come.

In the dry months, volunteers come together to collect native seedlings from the forest. Which are then nurtured in local tree nurseries, where they grow up into saplings. Then during the rainy months, which is the best time to plant trees, these saplings are taken to the deforested areas where they are planted in the ground.

This work is not easy, but the community is determined to see it through as the forest is a vital source of water, food and fuel.

Tireless work

Tree scouts like Josephine Wangari are the unsung heroes of forest restoration.

They work tirelessly to ensure that newly planted trees survive and thrive. They do this by monitoring the trees for signs of pests and diseases. They also ensure that newly planted trees have enough water. And they regularly check and replace trees that have been damaged by animals or people.

“We thank God for enabling us to plant so many trees,” says Josephine. “These trees are one year old now, and they look very healthy. We’ve taken great care of them together with farmers. And we will continue to take care of them so that they continue to grow well. Come next year, the forest will come back!”

The difference one year of planting can make

In just one year, the trees that Josephine and her fellow community members planted have already made a big difference in the area. “You can see now that the rains have come back and the air is very fresh,” Josephine tells us. “We’ve had lots of rain that’s supported the growth of the trees. And if it continues like this, we’ll have loads of water, the rivers will be full and we will benefit from this a lot.”

Thriving Dombeya torrida trees that were planted in April 2022.

You might think that one year is too short of a time for trees to grow. However, when trees grow in warmer climates with the right conditions, such as lots of sunlight, soil and spacing, they grow much quicker than here in the UK. For instance, seeds of the dombeya torrida tree, commonly found in highland forests of East Africa, can germinate within 15–20 days. The right trees grown in the right places can establish themselves quickly and really thrive.

The transformative power of trees

Thanks to this project, tree scouts like Josephine are happier and healthier and better off. “Personally, I have benefited so much,” Josephine says. “I can pay my children’s school fees. And it’s not just one child. At home, especially with how the economy has been, I’ve also been paying for food. And I use what’s left to invest in sheep that produce milk. So even my children drink this milk before they go to school and as a family, this is also helping us.”