RESTORATION OF NATIVE FOREST IN KENYA

The Global Trees Campaign is working in Kenya in association with Plants for Life, who manage the Brackenhurst Botanic Garden in Tigoni. The project aims to restore and protect native forest in the area.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Since 2001 Plant for Life has replaced 40 acres of exotic forest (eucalyptus, cypress and wattle) with indigenous African forest. Over 250 native tree species have been established in cultivation using wild-collected seed.

Plants for Life aims to restore and protect over 50 acres of forest for biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration. Environmental education is also important, especially for school children in urban areas. 

The project is demonstrating the cultivation and potential for restoration of almost 1000 indigenous plant species (including orchids, grasses and ferns)  in the highlands close to Nairobi. Indicators of success include bird and animal species returning to the forests. The bird list has risen from 35 species to 160 species over 9 years with rare bird species of the Aberdare primary forests re-appearing.

The forest is in a district where nearly all native forest has been destroyed for smallholder agriculture, coffee, tea and non-native tree plantations, and urban expansion.

Back to Current Projects