CSince the beginning of time, Kenya’s Kipsigis community has had hepalungu forests as its heart. It is also a source to water the Mara River and a refuge from wildlife due to its proximity the Maasai Mara reserve.
However, protests arose in large numbers following the Presidential election results for 2007Bomet county, south-west of the Rift valley, saw a large amount of forest destroyed and trees cut down. Joseph Towett, an elderly man from the community and passionate conservationist, remembers the terrible destruction. Trees were seen as a refuge for animals and birds, so removing them was like destroying them. He said that the destruction was like an evil curse.
The loss of indigenous trees like the African wild olive, cedar and red stinkwood was a blow not only to biodiversity, but also to the Kipsigis way to live. The forest is a valuable resource for herbs and plants that can be used in traditional ceremonies and medicines. David Sigei, who lives near the forest, said that without these plants, our ceremonies lack authenticity, which is a problem for our community. Some of these trees were lost when the forest was demolished.
The Chepalungu forest reserve, managed by Kenya Forest Service (KFS), covers 4,871 hectares (12,000 acres). It is divided into Siongiroi (871 hectares) and Kapchumbe (4000 hectares). The forest is managed by KFS. However, international organisations like the WWF or US Forest Service help to bring the forest back into life.
Towett established the Chepalungu Apex Community Forest Association in 2008 with the goal of reintroducing endangered tree species. Participating in tree planting has allowed the community to restore 160 hectares and cover it with trees.
Towett says that the Kipsigis people’s culture and livelihood are deeply rooted in nature. This makes them crucial to conserving forests biodiversity and reducing the climate crisis’s impact.
The loss of native species has been caused by changes in land use over the years and commercial plantings of exotic trees. Villagers are now taking collective responsibility for tree planting, conservation, and management.
Sigei explains that conservation became a priority for the community after they realized how important the environment was.
Jane Rotich, a forest scout who advocates traditional herbal remedies, said that people were less able to access healthcare facilities during the Covid lockdown in Kenya. Many turned to traditional medicinal plants and this led to increased efforts to preserve and plant native trees.
You won’t have to struggle finding these plants, unlike before. She said that they have grown again and are now easily available.
The Bomet county governmentThe free provision of indigenous seedlings to the communities of Chepalungu forest has been a priority. Gilbert K Korir is the county’s environment officer. He says that we have created a database of extinct indigenous tree species. We insist on buying more than exotic seeds.
Chepalungu forest has seen the planting of 90,000 trees. The indigenous species are also thriving. They have the support of the community but the climate crisis is still a threat. Timothy Oyondi (chepalungu forest station manger for the KFS), says that the greatest challenge to restoration programs is the inability to predict rainfall.
Ousseynou Nadoye is the regional coordinator for central and west Africa at the Initiative for the Restoration of African Forest LandscapesThe restoration of 100m hectares of Africa’s land by 2030 is part of the ‘African Land Restoration Plan’. It emphasizes the importance of small communities in the restoration of nature across Africa.
They restore small areas degraded forests and lands that, when accumulated, can become very important. He explains that they are the local landscape actors who carry out forest landscape restoration on-the-ground.
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