Rehabilitation of the Mau Forest receives boost from European Union
Police and Kenya Forest Service officers assess the destruction of a section of the Mau Forest. Rehabilitation of the expansive Mau Forest received a major boost Thursday when the European Union donated Sh70 million for setting up of agri-forestry activities. PHOTO/FILE
What you need to know:
- The funds to be managed by Kenya Forest Service and two other environmental organizations will be used to establish indigenous and exotic tree nurseries in Timboroa, Tinderet South and Ainabkoi areas.
- Already, 40 hectares have been planted with indigenous tree seedlings, as well as the provision of technical support for Community Forest Associations in the targeted areas for reforestation and community education.
Rehabilitation of the expansive Mau Forest received a major boost Thursday when the European Union donated Sh70 million for setting up of agri-forestry activities.
The funds to be managed by Kenya Forest Service and two other environmental organizations will be used to establish indigenous and exotic tree nurseries in Timboroa, Tinderet South and Ainabkoi areas.
Speaking during a tour of Tinderet Forest block, Kenya Forest Project Manager David Chege said communities residing around the three forest blocks would be included in the implementation of the project so as to ensure the rehabilitation process is sustainable.
He said that the communities would also be engaged in other income generating activities where they will be assisted to erect bee hives within the rehabilitated areas of the forest, provision of water tanks and setting up of agri-forestry activities.
The project, dubbed 'Innovative Approaches towards Rehabilitating Mau Ecosystem (IARME) will be implemented by KFS jointly with by the Kenya Water Towers Agency, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) through registered community forest associations.
The project has also set up environmental monitoring systems and carried out a scoop study to support reduced carbon emission systems.
Already, 40 hectares have been planted with indigenous tree seedlings, as well as the provision of technical support for Community Forest Associations in the targeted areas for reforestation and community education.
Chege added that 17 Farmer Field Schools have been set up to train the forest edge communities on the need to conserve the forest in a holistic manner that ensures sustainable co-existence of forests and the communities.
