Communities living in two endangered forests have partnered with government and non-governmental agencies and embarked on planting indigenous trees to enhance forest cover and conserve the environment.

Over the past 20 years, Mount Kilimambogo and Nyeri Hill in Machakos and Nyeri counties respectively, have been destroyed with impunity, as the neighbours fell trees, and burned charcoal coupled with massive livestock grazing, thus exposing the community to climate change effects.

To ensure the success of the forest restoration effort initiated by the organisation in 2021, the tree seedlings used are sourced from the community at a fee.

However, the situation changed with former adversaries, united by the Resources Oriented Development Initiative (Rodi-Kenya) brought them together through the initiation of forest restoration programs.

Forest restoration

More than 330,000 trees have been planted in parts of the 6,000 acres within Kilimambogo by Zambani residents in Machakos County, through the pact between Rodi, Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)and the community.

Zambani villagers have been at war with KWS over game hunting, charcoal burning and logging  as they resisted the eviction from the hilly areas.  Annie Kaloki in her 70s said she grew up in the area under the Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park where charcoal burning was the order of the day.

“We never knew whatever was happening would come to haunt the community in future. Today the entire area is under rehabilitation after we were evicted and settled in the lower areas,” said Kaloki.

A researcher James Kamande, says many of the wildlife that had migrated to other areas, have trooped back to their natural habitat.