How Kiambu grew its forest cover by 4 per cent in a year

The sounds of different of birds chirping in Uplands forest, Kiambu county, attract people to not only listen to them but also watch the beautiful vegetation.

The birds fly from one tree to another as people walk in the fresh air of the forest.

This is where Community Forest Association member John Mwathi spends most of his time.

Since he lives near the forest, he has made it a hobby to protect it, checking on trees to ensure they are planted well and enlightening people about trees and the forest environment.

His CFA is guided in doing all that by the Kenya Forest Service.

“Even if I have a piece of land at our home, which neighbours the forest where I practise farming, I and other CFA members feel we have a duty to support the government through the KFS to achieve its mission,” Mwathi says.

“We want to ensure all birds and all animals that depend on the forest have gotten the environment they are meant to live in. That is why one can hear birds singing beautifully.” 

They also help the government to restore the glory of the forests, which were cut down by illegal loggers many years ago without being replanted.

The KFS this month reported a 4 per cent rise in forest cover in Kiambu county following President William Ruto's directive of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

County forest conservator Thomas Kiptoo said the county was at 16 per cent early last year but today, it stands at 19.74 per cent.

He praised the communities living near the forests, stakeholders and partners who are planting trees in different forests.

“Our partners have assisted us in all ways,” the conservator said.

He said the communities running the Plantation Establishment Livelihood System (Pelis), which replaced the Shamba system, are strict with the growth of trees.

Each person who has been allocated a piece of land to cultivate in the forest has ensured that all trees planted together with their food crops have survived.

"We have seen the love our community forest associations have towards the forests and tree planting. They have owned the forests around them," Kiptoo said.

“Their tree planting activities become lively and leave the partners who were planting seedlings with a surety that their work will be checked and taken care of." 

With this support, Kiptoo said, the trees planted in different forests have survived.

John Njane, a CFA member from Uplands forest,  says their officials, together with KFS officers, keep inspecting the growth of trees in all pieces of land.

“When a planted seedling dries up, the plot owner replaces it with another one before the officials notice, since you risk being questioned,” he said.

They cultivate food crops such as cabbages, kales, spinach, carrots, onions and maize.

“Pelis is more organised than the Shamba System. For sure, it has supported families by ensuring there is plenty of food at home and for sale,” Njane said.

“It has also created job opportunities since some people work as casual labourers, while others come to buy food items and take them to the market. There is another group of transporters.” 

When trees have grown to 8 feet tall, the farmers are moved by KFS to another block of the forest, where they are allocated other pieces of land.

RAINS AN OPPORTUNITY

Kiptoo urged the farmers and locals to take advantage of the rains and plant trees and food crops.

The conservator was speaking at Ragia forest in Lari subcounty during the ongoing long rains tree-growing season programme initiated by KFS.

He said the KFS project is in line with the national goal of growing 15 billion trees by 2032.

The KFS officer said the Ragia forest has water sources, such as of Thiririka river, whose waters fill Bathi dam and Ragia river, whose waters drain into Kariminu dam.

Bathi waters are piped to feed the residents of Lari, Limuru and Kiambaa subcounties, while Ragia waters are drained into Kamirimu dam in Gatundu North, where the government is constructing a dam to feed as many people as possible with clean water.

"We need to conserve the environment. Our water sources also need to be protected at all costs since their waters are fed to many people in different areas," he said.

The officer further urged farmers to develop commercial forests.

The KFS says the move will address the high demand for timber in the country, as the government aims to protect its natural resources and forests.

Kiptoo also urged farmers and people living near river banks to plant trees that are water-friendly, such as bamboo.

Another CFA member, Gerald Wachira, said they encourage each other to plant trees.

“We have planted seedbeds at our homes and others at a place where KFS has set aside to sustain any tree-planting activity that may arise,” he said.

He said they want to see the President’s directive being achieved.

Wachira adds that they plant different types of species of trees.

“I’m sure our nurseries have all the types of trees that grow well in our region,” he said, adding that they operate nurseries in Kinale.

WORKING IN HARMONY

Lari deputy county commissioner Samuel Kariuki praised the KFS for ensuring that there are no wrangles between the management of the CFAs.

Forest groups in Uplands, Kamae, Ragia and Kireita have never had any differences, with Kinale the exception.

Kariuki thanked Kiptoo and Kinale forest station manager Phillip Ngotho for resolving a conflict that had arisen between the CFA and its officials.

He said there is nothing meaningful that can be achieved when people disagree.

“It is through partnership and teamwork that we can see the fruits of what we are doing,” the administrator said.

Kijabe Environment Volunteers Organisation director Stephen Muiru urged the community to observe KFS's advice on forestry issues.

He said they enlighten and advocate for forest conservation, adding that they also assist KFS with seedlings whenever there is a tree-planting exercise.

The speed at which the KFS and the government was moving, he said, will see Ruto's target achieved.

Njane and his Uplands team said they will ensure the percentage of forest cover keeps rising to ensure the government achieves its vision.

Chief conservator of forests Alex Lemarkoko said the KFS has intensified day and night patrols to safeguard the planted seedlings and has already grown trees to replace those cut by illegal loggers.

He said while no one is allowed to destroy forests and their vegetation, foresters and forest rangers should tread carefully when dealing with them.

"Do not harass them once you arrest them. Let them face the full force of the law," he directed.

The chief conservator acknowledged the support from Ruto's government, specifically the commitment to addressing the staffing issues by considering the addition of more foresters and rangers to the service.

He also applauded the KFS board for promoting 1,565 officers who had stagnated at the same level they had been working with for more than 20 years regardless of competency.

He directed them to embark on patrols to ensure no idlers are basking in the forests.

Lemarkoko said they must improve the forests to realise the President's objective.

“We are happy with the support we are receiving from our partners, the government, the CFAs and other environmentalists,” he said.

"We are sure we shall achieve the presidential directive of achieving 30 per cent tree cover by 2032."