Kakamega Tropical Rainforest, Kenya's last Neo-Guinea Congo rainforest remnant, faces threats that endanger its vital role in supporting wildlife, water sources, and local livelihoods, underscoring the need for urgent conservation efforts.

The forest faces critical threats from unsustainable practices driven by poverty, including the expansion of farmlands, illegal logging, and charcoal production. This degradation, compounded by erratic rainfall patterns, has led to food insecurity and reduced agricultural yields, affecting millions of people.

How will the project protect the rainforest?

Local communities around the forest buffers have few alternatives for biomass fuel and timber. The decline of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) like medicinal herbs, honey, and wild fruits due to forest degradation underscores the need for agroforestry interventions. These can support both the conservation of Kakamega Forest and the socio-economic improvement of nearby communities.

This project aims to enhance the value, productivity, and resilience of 150 hectares of degraded land in the buffer zones of Kibiri forest by implementing suitable tree cultivation techniques. Implemented on 500 smallholder farms, in 5 schools, and 5 public institutions, the project will plant a total of 100,000 agroforestry trees: 90,000 on farms and 10,000 on public land and school grounds.

The project aims to promote the adoption of high-value, high-demand fruit trees, as well as other multipurpose agroforestry and medicinal native trees valued by local communities for conservation and income-generating activities (IGA). Additionally, the project will encourage the intercropping of diverse crops, including grains, vegetables, and medicinal plants, with trees and perennial food and tuber crops on their land.

What kinds of trees will be planted?

About 70% of the trees planted will be permanent species, including fruit-bearing and native varieties, while 30% will be managed sustainably through methods like coppicing and selective harvesting. This approach enables the community to use the timber to build homes or generate funds for education, providing a sustainable income source. Some trees may mature within 5 to 10 years, enhancing the community's ecological and economic resilience.

Where will the trees be planted?

This project focuses on 10 villages in the Muhudi and Makuchi locations: Muhudu Kamulembe, Shanda, Kavundu, Mukamari, Andaye, Sirwa, Shiru, Shaviringa , and Musasa. This area is within the buffer zones of the Kibiri forest block, located about 380 kilometres northwest of Nairobi in Vihiga County.

These locations have been selected primarily because they are part of the community forest associations (CFA) and face significant demand for tree-based incentives at the on-farm level, alongside challenges with fuel and renewable energy. Their proximity to the Kibiri forest block enables residents to work as casual labourers, and they form an essential part of the “social fence” that mitigates pressure and prevents encroachment on the remaining forest areas.

Building on strong foundations

This initiative builds on the ongoing complementary Kakamega Phase 4 tree-planting and community-led restoration project, which is rooted in strong community relationships and strategic infrastructure established by the International Tree Foundation. These foundations enable effective scaling and replication of this agroforestry intervention.

The project will enhance sustainable land management, reduce ecological pressure on natural resources, improve climate resilience, diversify livelihoods, and ensure prosperity.