Introduction
- The Environmental and Conservation Department is mandated with the conservation activities that KENVO carries out
- Focus mainly on Kikuyu Escarpment forest blocks which are Kinale, Uplands, Kieni, Kereita, Kamae and Thogoto forests. Over the years the forest faced many threats
- Kikuyu Escarpment is an important biodiversity area in the Southern part of the Aberdare. It is the third largest water tower in Kenya after Mt. Kenya and the Mau. It is believed that one out of three people in Nairobi use water that comes from this catchment. The area is also an important habitat for wildlife like the African elephant and Columbus monkeys. The area is also home to more than 130 bird species.
- The Conservation programme started in 2001 with funding from United Nation Environmental Programme (UNEP).
Objectives
- To rehabilitate the degraded areas with indigenous tree planting.
- To raise and promote on-farm planting of agro-forestry tree species
- To help the local forest station to monitor and patrol the local forests as well as the surrounding forest blocks.
- To promote and support the participation of the local community in conservation issues
- To provide training to local farmers and other stakeholders on tree planting and tree nursery management.
- To demonstrate that needed partnerships for effective conservation
Activities
- Tree nurseries for the exotic and indigenous seedlings, one is located at Matathia Primary school and the main one is located at Kereita Forest Station.
- Forest rehabilitation on degraded areas through conducting various tree plantings events which activities usually happen during the rainy seasons of the year. For Kereita, there are two ideal seasons during the long and short rains. The long rains are experienced between the months of March and May while the short rains are experienced between October and December.
- Local Community and schools (primary and secondary) tree nursery establishment training
- Forest monitoring and policing at Kereita and adjacent forest block
- River line rehabilitation and catchment protection
- Flowers and fruits propagation
- Promotion of on-farm forestry
Achievements
- Tree planting; 600,000 trees planted in the forest 60,000 river line protection 20,000 in school for a span of 10 years
- Tree seedlings production; Increased seedlings capacity in KENVO nurseries
- Training; Offered to schools and the community on tree nursery establishment and management locally and internationally
- Working with CFA; Within Kikuyu Escarpment forest: Thogoto, Kieni, Kinale, Kereita, Uplands, Kamae
- Networking; Locally and internationally with various Donors, NGOs and other Countries
- Improved conservation; Increased forest cover at Kikuyu Escarpment forest
- Partnership Establishment; HRSC, Universities, Banks, EABL, Safaricom Foundation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, County Government
Media