Planting native trees to restore and protect Dundori Forest.

Project update

5 Jan

Written By International Tree Foundation

Since March, we’ve been supporting the local community to source, plant and grow threatened tree species in a bid to restore and protect Dundori Forest in Kenya.

Here at ITF, we understand that planting the right trees to restore and protect our forests is necessary for sustaining biodiversity and essential ecosystem services that are vital for the wellbeing of millions of people worldwide.

And together with our local partner, Wezesha Community Based Organisation, we’re planting trees to restore and protect Dundori Forest.

Mainstreaming threatened tree species

Kamau Gicharu, Chairperson, Urumwe Conservation Group

We’re supporting the local community to plant threatened tree species that enhance local biodiversity and combat land degradation within Dundori Forest and neighbouring landscapes.

Kamau Gicharu (pictured right) told us, “We focus on threatened tree species in Kenya like Red Cedar which is used to treat East Coast Fever in cattle and heal swollen feet. We also plant Mtamaiyu [Brown Olive] whose roots are used to make a nutritious soup for nursing mothers.”

So far, we’ve already planted 81,500 trees within Dundori Forest and 20,000 trees within local schools and institutions.

And that’s not all…

We’re supporting women in the community to take up leadership roles within environmental conservation.

Redempta Mutisia, Chair of Wezesha, told us “With the support of ITF, we’re supporting women to become more involved in land restoration activities and decisions touch on land management from the household level.”