Reforestation

Restoring the last fragment of tropical rainforest in Kenya

Overview

Site

Timeline

Benefits

Verification

Why plant trees?

Reforestation replants trees on land hit by natural or human disturbance. It restores forest structure and canopy, protects biodiversity and watersheds, and promotes carbon sequestration.

Project summary

Why support rainforest restoration in Kenya?

While the vast majority of the blame for climate change can be attributed to our over-reliance on fossil fuels, massive deforestation in the 20th and 21st centuries has diminished one of our planet’s best tools for absorbing carbon. Our forests are natural buffers against some of the worst effects of climate change, buffers that can be preserved through action on the ground.

Forests are vital for wildlife and for freshwater resources, and are relied on for the livelihoods of the majority of local communities in Kakamega. Local people are estimated to derive products worth 100 million Kenya Shillings (approximately US$ 1.7 million) from the Kakamega tropical rainforest each year. Local people recognise that the forests need to be protected – but they also contribute to the damage, due to a lack of alternative livelihoods.

In the past, Kenya has experienced erratic rainfall, attributed mainly to depletion of the five major water towers and its only remnant of tropical rainforest ecosystem – Kakamega forest. This has led to poor yields for farmers, escalating food prices and debilitating droughts.

The need to restore the degraded areas of the water tower is critical to millions of people who depend on the Kakamega tropical rainforest.

So far, this project has:

Planted over 660,000 native and threatened trees
Restored over 500 hectares of critically-degraded and biodiversity rich habitats in Kakamega Tropical rainforest
Sustainably diversified and strengthened livelihoods within forest buffers for over 15,000 people through tree planting activities and the promotion of alternative and profitable uses of the forest
Produced indigenous and threatened tree seedlings in community-managed nurseries selected close to the identified planting sites
Enabled Local Community Forest Associations (CFAs) to take leadership in forest management and protection
Held advocacy workshops to rally public participation in forest and riparian protection

Locations

Kakamega County, Kenya

Timeline

Follow the latest milestones and updates from this project.

Sep 2025

A new phase in the Kakamega Rainforest program

As of the 27th August 2025 Phase 4 of the project has been proposed. Phase 4 of this project will run from August 2025 to July 2027, with the ITF planning to replant 106,383 trees that will restore 70 hectares of degraded sites within the Kakamega Rainforest, the Nandi Forest, and the Koibem block, as well as an additional 20 hectares within forest buffer zones in Nandi County. The location is adjacent to the project’s Phase 3 site at Chepkumia block, enabling seamless continuation and expansion of restoration efforts.

Mar 2024

Kakamega update 3

Phase 3 off this project began, planting an additional 230,000 trees in 2 new sites within the Esecheno and Nandi forest blocks.

Apr 2023

Kakamega update 2

The second phase of the project began, with a plan to plant a further 331,440 trees across 4 sites covering 318.4 hectares. 30,000 of these trees were part of an agroforestry programme.

Mar 2023

Women benefiting from project they’re leading in the Kakamega rainforest

As part of this project, women are establishing their own tree nurseries to diversify their income sources. Just 6 months into this project, women are reporting that they can now put food on the table, and are being respected by their husbands.

Nov 2022

Kakamega update 1

The first phase of this project begins! Working with a local organisation called Women in Water and Natural Resource Conservation, and the Kenya Forest Service, nurseries were established to grow 100,000 trees.

Benefits

Climate

Planting a total of 100,000 native and threatened trees will help to restore the Kakamega tropical rainforest and the climate in Kenya.

Nature

The area is classified as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), a ‘water tower’ catchment area, whose rivers feed into Lake Victoria UNESCO World heritage site and the source of the Nile River Basin – a transboundary resource of international significance shared by 10 countries.

Kakamega forest is also an Important Bird Area (IBA). 367 bird species have been recorded in the forest such as the West African Great blue turaco and black-and-white-casqued hornbill. At least 9 birds are not found anywhere else. It is home to the endangered African grey parrots. Other endangered species include the Kaimosi blind snake, De Brazza’s monkey, Black and White Colobus monkey, Red-tailed monkey and Gaboon viper. Between 10 to 20% of the animal species in the forest are nationally unique.

There are 380 recorded species of plants. This includes 150 species of trees and shrubs, 60 species of ferns, and 170 species of flowering plants including 60 species of orchids with 9 species found only in this forest.

People

Forty key species of medicinal plants used by local people have been identified and recorded. Some of the medicinal trees include Mondia whitei which is locally known as Mukombero, and Olea capensis known as Elgon teak. About seventy percent of the medicinal plants grow inside the forest while thirty percent around the edge and the immediate surroundings of the forest.

ITF is working with Women in Water and Natural Resource Conservation (WWANC) to equip local community members with the skills and resources needed to restore and protect Kakamega Forest.Partnering up with WWANC has been instrumental in encouraging the involvement of women in the project as one of their core activities is women leadership and girl-child mentorship.

For this project, women are the main project beneficiaries, and they carry out essential activities through their roles as project scouts and tree nursery attendants, while others worked on hole digging, tree planting and after care.

As part of this project, women are also establishing their own tree nurseries to diversify their income sources. Just 6 months into this project, women are reporting that they can now put food on the table, and are being respected by their husbands.

SDGs supported

Working on sustainably diversifying and strengthening livelihoods within forest buffers for 600 households through tree planting activities and the promotion of alternative and profitable uses of the forest aligns with this SDG aimed at ending poverty.

By working with Women in Water and Natural Resource Conservation, the project is empowering women and girls, pushing for gender equality.

The majority of local communities in Kakamega rely upon the Kakamega tropical rainforest for freshwater, restoration of this forest and through working with Women in Water and Natural Resource Conservation aligns with this SDG.

Restoring the last fragment of tropical rainforest in Kenya aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

The project aims to plant a total of 100,000 native and threatened trees and restore 100 Hectares of critically-degraded and biodiversity rich habitat, aligns with SDG 15 to sustainably manage forests and halt biodiversity loss.

Verification

These partners help deliver the project and verify its impact.

Suppliers

International Tree Foundation

International Tree Foundation is a charity working with local communities to plant trees and restore forests in places where, together, we can make the fastest, most lasting impact for communities and the future of our planet.