People4Nature Green Climate Fund

There was a meeting of all Kilifi County Kaya Sacred Forest representatives held at Mariakani on the 16th November 2021. 17 representatives of 9 sacred forests (shrines) deliberated on the challenges facing the sacred forests and the solutions that can be employed to mitigate these challenges. Rapid degradation of forests, climate change and the waning influece of the elders in the community were listed as the priority areas.

A subsequent meeting was held on the same day with Kaya Elders from Kaya Fungo sacred forest to plan on how to mobilize forest adjacent communities to embrace climate-smart approaches and technologies, and how the Kaya elders can be supported to effectively perform their duties.

Two things were resolved: 

1. That awareness campaigns to sensitize adjacent communities on climate change, alternative climate friendly economic activities, and the need to protect both the Kaya forests and the custodians of the Kaya shrines. The Kaya elders, as custodians of the shrines and the Kaya sacred forests in general, have of late faced hostilities from communities for the myriad of challenges facing them, including the climate related challenges – lack of rain, poor agricultural produce and new diseases. The sensitization campaigns will aim to ease this tension and encourage communities to recognize the role of the elders in conserving the forests,
2. That the campaigns include an element of demonstration on climate smart technologies such as energy saving cookstoves and other alternative energy sources to ease the pressure on forest wood fuel. One of the alternative energy-saving cookstoves to be promoted is attached below.

Other alternative climate friendly livelihood options will be explored in the coming days as the campaigns kick off. Africa Nature Organization will support the communities to undertake the initial sensitization campaigns in December 2021 targeting adjacent communities in Gotani and Mtsara wa Kaya villages. Later in January 2022, the elders plan to purchase and distribute at least 100 energy-saving cookstoves to 100 households who are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

We, therefore, appeal to well-wishers to join in our climate action campaign and help us raise over USD 5,000 by end of December 2021. Kindly use the link below.

Links:

• People4Nature Green Climate Fund