Home to an estimated 1,847 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles as well as 6,505 types of vascular plants, Kenya’s forests are some of the most ecologically diverse on the planet.
Covering over 37 million hectares, these forests sequester enormous amounts of CO2, store rainwater, and provide local livelihoods across the nation. However, in recent decades human activities such as logging, charcoal burning, and illegal agricultural settling has led to widespread deforestation, resulting in an increase in severe drought and extreme poverty.
Here at More Trees, we aim to support a reforestation commitment from the Kenyan government to accomplish 10% forest cover.
Name: Republic of Kenya
Capital: Nairobi
Population: 47.6 million+
Official language: Swahili
Area: 580, 367 km2
Climate: Tropical
Known for its record-breaking marathon runners, the Great Wildebeest Migration and breathtaking safaris, Kenya is home to an incredible array of people, communities, wildlife and forests. These forests are not only unique and vibrant; they're also important on a global level. They cover over 37 million hectares, sequestering a phenomenal amount of CO2 while storing rainwater, preventing flooding, improving soil fertility, regulating climate conditions and providing local livelihoods. They also support an estimated 1,847 species of amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles - 4% of which are only found in Kenya itself - and 6,505 types of vascular plants. Accordingly, the widespread deforestation that has occured in Kenya since the '70s is a significant cause for concern, on both a local, national and international level.
Site Name: Republic of Kenya
Population: 200,000
Reforestation: Afromontane restoration & reforestation
Total forest size: 5,500 Hectares
Key species: East African sandalwood, and African pencil cedar and African olive
Keep an eye out for: Aardvark, leopards and the spotted hyena
Kijabe Forest in Kenya is a biodiversity hotspot, home to an array of tree species, mammals and birds. It also supports a local community of nearly 200,000 people. They rely on the forest both directly and indirectly, for agriculture, food and water.
“Fun fact: Kijabe stands on the edge of the Great Rift Valley – a series of geographic trenches running from Lebanon to Mozambique and spanning approximately 4,300 miles .”
However, recent years have seen the forest relied on heavily for the wrong reasons. The overharvesting of trees for charcoal and timber is having a devastating affect on the area. Deforestation is causing unpredictable weather patterns, flooding and landslides, which in turn affect wildlife habitats, water supply, local infrastructure and livelihoods. Together with our planting partners, we’re looking to stop these devastations, protect the forest and help sequester future CO2 emissions at the same time.
How?
Copyright by Eco Credits Limited, t/a More Trees by THG Eco - 2023
