50240 SMI Tree Planting Scheme (LIFE ON EARTH) Interactive - Flipbook - Page 14
PROJECT 3:
FOREST RESTORATION
IN KENYA
Planting partner: Eden
Reforestation Projects
Kenya is a large country in east Africa,
situated between Lake Victoria to the
west and the Indian Ocean to the east.
Its capital, Nairobi, is a large regional
commercial hub, and its economy is
heavily reliant on two sectors as sources
of external revenue which includes
agriculture and tourism. Since the 1970s,
this region has experienced widespread
deforestation to support livestock,
agriculture, and the production of
charcoal. This deforestation, when
coupled with recent droughts in the
area, has severely harmed local
watersheds hydrologically.
The environmental and social impact
of this project are of the utmost
importance due to the Mau region’s
residents having dif昀椀culties with
inadequate educational facilities,
road systems, and restricted access
to fresh water. Millions of people’s
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lives are impacted by the numerous
rivers that 昀氀ow into Lake Victoria to
the west from the Mau forest. Food
security and poverty have also been key
development challenges in Kenya, with
some sources 昀椀nding that around 36%
of the Kenyan population live below the
poverty line.
Focusing on reforestation in this area
is key to the local communities and
helping to combat climate change on
a large scale. The Kass FM spans six
locally designated reforestation zones,
5,700 hectares and is situated in the
Mau region of Southern Kenya.
Over the large area of the project
site, which is set to span over a 7-year
project period, it is estimated that
around 14.25 million Afromontane
trees will be planted across the Kass FM
planting site.
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