A drive across the five forest blocks that form Kaptagat Forest easily confirms that this green and hilly landscape dotted with stiff cliffs is one of the most breathtaking scenes in the country.

The forest blocks, namely, Kaptagat, Sabor, Penon, Kessup and Kipkabus, form the pristine landscape that straddles two counties, Elgeyo-Marakwet and Uasin Gishu.

Besides being picturesque, Kaptagat Forest is an important part of the Cherangany-Elgeyo Hills Ecosystem which is an important water tower for Kenya.

The land, however, faces many threats and challenges that actively undermine the ability of the large ecosystem to perform its functions. Increased population growth, livestock overstocking and encroachment into the forest have exerted pressure on the landscape.

The resulting degradation of the Kaptagat forest has led to reduced water flows in rivers, loss of biodiversity, reduction of crop production and destruction of property as well as the loss of lives as a result of landslides.

But since the Annual Kaptagat Tree Planting campaign was launched by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, stakeholders have restored hundreds of hectares of the forest land.

On Friday, conservationists and environmental stakeholders will participate in the restoration of 225 hectares of Kaptagat Forest, with a focus on degraded riparian and catchment areas.

Speaking to People Daily on Thursday, July 23, World Wide Fund for Nature-Kenya’s (WWF-Kenya) National Forest Programme Manager, Kiunga Kareko said the 5th Edition of Annual Kaptagat Tree Planting is a key part of the larger plan for the restoration of the ecosystem.

“The event tomorrow will realise planting of 11,000 assorted indigenous seedlings at Kaptagat Forest,” Musyoka said.

The North Rift Conservancy Ag. Head of Conservation Anthony Musyoka said Kenya Forest Service foresters, working together with Kaptagat residents, have planted 65,490 trees seedlings since Monday, July 19, in readiness for Friday’s ceremony.

“Progress is impossible without change and those whose cannot change their minds cannot change anything and Kaptagat needs more of willing partners for this change to be realised,” said North Rift Conservancy’s Ag. Head of Conservation, Anthony Musyoka.

He said Kenya Forest Service foresters, working together with Kaptagat residents, have planted 65,490 trees seedlings since Monday, July 19, in readiness for Friday’s ceremony.

“So far we have done 65,490 and envisage to plant 319, 000 assorted indigenous seedlings for this year’s event. The event tomorrow will realise planting of 11,000 assorted indigenous seedlings at Kaptagat Forest,” said Musyoka.

WWF-Kenya, which is one of the leading conservation organizations in the country has contributed 110,290 assorted indigenous tree seedlings and 3,090 bamboo seedlings for Ksh4,159,700.

Planting of the seedlings began earlier this week led by Kenya Forest Service foresters and local community members in the five forest blocks.

As part of the campaign to promote conservation in the region, a cycling race will be held on Sunday, July 25th in Eldoret drawing participants from the local community and members of professional ameature cycling groups.

Further, the cyclists are also raising awareness for WWF-Kenya’s #MyLane2 campaign which calls for the adoption of Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) systems in all our Kenyan roads.

“Through the #MyLane2 platform, we call on the Kenyan people as right-holders to come together to advocate and call on policymakers to take action and prioritise NMT as a key enabler towards reducing our footprint through various interventions as outlined under various national, regional and international commitments,” says WWF-Kenya on their website campaign page. 

Friday’s tree-planting exercise has attracted a cross-section of stakeholders, including county governments, Eliud Kipchoge Foundation, various state agencies, higher learning institutions, private sector, Community Forest Associations among others.