Ecosystem Restoration Kenya Project #68647

Grow Forests, Grow Communities In Mount Kenya

by Bill Woodley Mount Kenya Company

Project Report | 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.

Permalink

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 .

Links:

Permalink

Sep 29, 2025
Imenti Forest - Ecological Corridor Under Pressure

By MOUNT KENYA TRUST | COMMUNICATIONS

Mt Kenya Forests' Elephants

The Imenti Forest, located on the northeastern slopes of Mount Kenya, serves as a crucial link between the mountain's montane habitats and the surrounding lowlands. However, this unique ecosystem is currently facing severe pressure. Years of degradation, particularly during the 1990s, have weakened its biodiversity and resilience. One of the most pressing threats is the spread of Lantana camara, an invasive shrub that has overtaken native vegetation, significantly reducing food availability for wildlife, including elephants.

For over five years, Mount Kenya Trust (MKT) has been leading restoration efforts in Imenti with a dual mission: to restore forest cover and strengthen community-based forest management. Rangers and tree monitors patrol the restored areas, but challenges persist. Illegal activities continue, and elephants—although crucial to the ecosystem—put additional strain on the already degraded forest by feeding heavily in it. Imenti is essential for elephants, as it serves as a water source and a calving ground; however, its current state is putting stress on both the wildlife and their habitat.

Recent research has underscored the urgency of these restoration efforts. A peer-reviewed study published on August 12, 2025, titled "Physiological and Nutritional Stress Response of African Elephants within the Lantana-Dominated Lower Imenti Forest Reserve in Kenya," documented repeated juvenile elephant deaths since 2023 and highlighted declining health among surviving individuals. Co-authored by MKT’s Susie Weeks and Enock Ochieng, the study found that elephants relegated to lantana-dominated zones are suffering from poor nutrition, restricted movement, high stress levels, and severe tick infestations.

These findings have led to a coordinated response. MKT, in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service, Save the Elephants, Rhino Ark, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Community Forest Associations, and academic partners, has confirmed the evidence and agreed on urgent interventions. Removing lantana and replanting indigenous species will enhance forage quality, reduce stress in elephants, and re-establish Imenti as a viable wildlife corridor.

During a stakeholder meeting with the Forest Manager on July 22, 2025, partners agreed to strengthen collaboration with local communities. Joint forums are planned to increase community ownership of the forest, accelerate restoration efforts, and improve protection against illegal activities.

The future of the Imenti Forest relies on finding a balance between ecological restoration and community engagement. With your support, we can restore this vital corridor, protect elephants and biodiversity, and ensure water access, livelihoods, and long-term resilience for the communities living alongside it.

Imenti recovering from cleared lantana camara.

Community Led Restoration -clearing lantana bushes

Links:

Journal article

Permalink

1 2 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.