Ecosystem Restoration Kenya Project #68647

Grow Forests, Grow Communities In Mount Kenya

by Bill Woodley Mount Kenya Company

Project Report | Jun 15, 2026
MOUNT KENYA TRUST STRATEGIC PLAN 2026 -2030.

By MOUNT KENYA TRUST | COMMUNICATIONS

We are delighted to share a milestone that belongs to you as much as it does to us.

Most recently, Mount Kenya Trust officially launched its Strategic Plan 2026-2030. The plan has been developed over the past year through a consultative process involving government agencies, community institutions, civil society, and private sector partners. It reflects both the progress made over MKT's 25 years of operations, landscape priorities, and the significant work that remains to secure the long-term health of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, key biodiversity hotspot, and critical national water tower.

The plan is structured around three strategic goals: strengthening the partnerships and unified conservation strategies that the ecosystem requires; supporting community-led forest management and improving livelihoods for forest-adjacent populations; and increasing forest cover through large-scale, community-driven restoration.

Collaboration and partnerships are central to goal 1 on this plan. We cannot achieve ecosystem-level impact alone. The relationships we have built with organisations like yours are the foundation of everything we have accomplished, and everything we intend to do next.

We welcome you to this next journey and are happy to walk you through the plan in person and to explore where our work over the next five years might intersect, complement, or create new joint opportunities.

We have attached our Strategic Plan 2026–2030 to this email, and it is also available on: https://issuu.com/mountkenyatrust/docs/mount_kenya_trust_strategic_plan_2026-2030

We hope you will take a moment to read it and, as always, welcome the opportunity to walk you through the plan in person and explore where our work over the next five years intersects, complements, or creates new joint opportunities. Please do not hesitate to reach out to arrange a conversation.

Watch our launch video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23zHO-sP4h0

With thanks for your continued support of Mount Kenya.

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Attachments:

MKT Strategic Plan 2026 - 2030 (PDF)

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May 14, 2026
Restoring Threatened Indigenous Species in the Mount Kenya Ecosystem

By MOUNT KENYA TRUST | Project Development & Reporting.

For over 25 years, Mount Kenya Trust (MKT) has worked alongside local communities to restore and protect the Mount Kenya forest ecosystem through a community-driven conservation approach. To date, more than 3,000 hectares of degraded forest have been rehabilitated and over 3 million indigenous trees planted, contributing to ecological recovery, improved water catchments, and sustainable livelihoods.

Despite this progress, the ecosystem continues to face significant threats from illegal logging, charcoal production, agricultural expansion, poaching, illegal water abstraction, and land encroachment. These pressures have led to the decline of key indigenous tree species such as African Olive, Red Cedar, and Camphor, and have reduced critical ecosystem services, including water regulation, soil stability, and forest-based livelihoods.

A key achievement of a Darwin-funded project titled "Increasing Ecological and Socio-economic Resilience of Upper-Ewaso Ng’iro North Ecosystem'' & managed by Fauna & Flora & MKT being its Forest Restoration supporting partner, has been the restoration of habitats for threatened indigenous species. Across Marania and Karuri forest sites, 507,478 indigenous trees covering approximately 370 hectares have been planted, including ecologically important species such as Juniperus procera, Olea europaea subsp. Africana, Prunus africana, and Hagenia abyssinica. These restoration efforts are helping rebuild degraded habitats, improve biodiversity, and strengthen ecosystem resilience.

Community engagement remains central to the project’s success. A total of 366 community members from 21 tree groups were trained in nursery establishment and management, strengthening local capacity for long-term restoration. In addition, 102 members from six Community Forest Associations received fire prevention and management training, contributing to a 58% reduction in fire extinguishment time and improved coordination between response teams.

The Horse Patrol Teams continue to play a critical role in protecting restored forests through regular patrols, wildfire response, and community awareness activities that help prevent further degradation. Beyond conservation, the project has also supported local livelihoods, returning £82,149 to forest-adjacent communities and benefiting over 1,800 people through sustainable value chain initiatives linked to health, well-being, and local development.

Together, these interventions are contributing to improved water security, climate resilience, ecosystem functioning, and the long-term recovery of threatened species across the Upper Ewaso Ng’iro North ecosystem.

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Jan 26, 2026
MOUNT KENYA TRUST RESTORATION PROGRAM - 2025 ANNUAL REPORT

By MOUNT KENYA TRUST | COMMUNICATIONS

Mount Kenya Ecosystem

In 2025, the Mount Kenya Trust Restoration Programme achieved significant conservation and community milestones. A major highlight was the resumption of restoration activities in Imenti after a two-year hiatus, re-establishing long-term recovery efforts in this critical forest block. During the year, 415 hectares of degraded forest were restored, including 200 hectares in Marania, 184 hectares in Karuri, and 21 hectares in Imenti. To grasp the scale of this achievement, imagine these 415 hectares restored as approximately the size of 775 soccer fields.

Restoration efforts focused on a diverse mix of indigenous species to enhance ecological resilience, support biodiversity recovery, and restore vital ecosystem services, including water regulation and carbon sequestration. 415,000 indigenous tree seedlings were planted, contributing substantially to the recovery of critical Afromontane forests within the Mount Kenya Forest Ecosystem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Kenya’s most important water catchments. Seedlings were sourced from community tree nurseries, most of which are women-led.

Key species planted in 2025 included Red Cedar, Olea africana, Juniperus procera, Hagenia abyssinica, Prunus africana, Syzygium guineense, Podocarpus latifolius, and Ficus spp. Despite challenging climatic conditions, including prolonged dry periods, frost, and irregular rainfall, the programme maintained planting momentum. Tree monitors continued inspecting the restoration sites, working alongside members of Community Forest Associations to ensure standards were maintained and tree seedlings thrived. About 11,000 seedlings were beaten up and replanted to strengthen survival under harsh weather conditions, demonstrating the value of careful management and resilient restoration strategies.

A core strength of the programme remains its community-driven restoration model, implemented through the Tree Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (TELIS). By integrating reforestation with agroforestry-based livelihood incentives, the programme directly supported 2,075 households in 2025, with community members—particularly women and youth—participating in land preparation, planting, and early-stage maintenance, while benefiting from short-term cultivation opportunities that enhanced food security and household incomes. In 2025, the programme conducted the first Livelihood Impact Survey, engaging 20 youth as enumerators, alongside a TELIS Post-Harvest Survey. Key challenges identified included high tree mortality, affecting seedling survival and crop yields; poor road and transport infrastructure, limiting market access; inadequate storage facilities for produce; and exploitation by middlemen. These findings will inform adaptive strategies to strengthen livelihoods alongside forest restoration.

Overall, the 2025 restoration programme demonstrates the tangible impact of community-led conservation. By restoring degraded forest blocks, the programme strengthened habitat connectivity, reduced pressure on remaining intact forests, and built long-term climate resilience within the Mount Kenya ecosystem. Continued investment has enabled a scalable, evidence-based restoration model that delivers measurable returns—protecting biodiversity, addressing climate change, and improving livelihoods for forest-adjacent communities. Through this integrated approach, your support is directly translating into healthier forests and more resilient communities, ensuring lasting benefits for both people and nature.

Looking ahead, we look forward to another year of successfully restoring the ecosystem. Mount Kenya Trust will continue to mobilise public support for conservation through various engagement initiatives, including this year's upcoming Tropic Air 10to4 Mountain Bike Challenge. This iconic endurance event brings together cyclists from across the globe to ride in support of forest conservation and community livelihoods within the Mount Kenya ecosystem. Participants directly contribute to restoration through their registration and fundraising, turning sporting achievement into tangible environmental impact. For more information, visit - www.10to4.0rg. This year, the event is scheduled for the 20th - 22nd of February & will include a novel 10km marathon. Supporters and partners are encouraged to register, participate, and actively champion conservation efforts, helping to sustain and expand restoration gains across Mount Kenya’s forests.

To 2026, another year of sustainably conserving the Mount Kenya Ecosystem !!!

Tree seedlings

Imenti Restoration site

Restoration Beneficiary at her allocated plot

Women tending to seedlings for restoration

More youth are taking up restoration activities .

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