People4Nature Green Climate Fund

Kaya Fungo Sacred Forest: Celebrating Environmental Resilience

On the 11th May 2026, community members of Mutsara wa Kaya village, the wider Kaya Fungo location, and over guests gathered at Mzee Mwaringa Mae’s home to celebrate his recognition and award of the prestigious 2025 Global Person of the Year and the Conservation Award for his transformative work in the Kaya Fungo region. Mzee Mwaringa, one of the Elders at Kaya Fungo Sacred Forest, a staunch advocate for forest conservation and a key figure in our GlobalGiving efforts, has been at the forefront of mobilizing Elders to resolve perennial leadership wrangles and ensure the forest's protection.

Mr. Mae stands as a unique bridge between tradition and ecology. His contributions are centered on three pillars:

1. Custodian of Heritage and Climate: As a member of the Ngowa clan, Mr. Mae serves as the custodian of the "House of Tutu." In this sacred role, he is entrusted with the tools believed to maintain favorable climatic conditions for the Sacred Kaya Fungo Forest. This spiritual guardianship mirrors his physical dedication to the land, positioning him as a vital protector of both the culture and the local micro-climate.
2. Climate Change Mitigation: Since 1987, Mr. Mae has dedicated 15 acres of his personal land to total forest restoration. By allowing the land to regenerate naturally and establishing a private tree nursery in 2012, he has created a lush sanctuary of indigenous species, such as the Mibamba Kofi and Mubono Koma, which act as a critical carbon sink and a defense against the creeping threat of regional drought.
3. Reducing Pressure on Forest Resources: Mr. Mae’s 15-acre forest serves as a "living pharmacy" and a sustainable resource hub for the community. By providing herbal medicines, firewood, and poles from his own managed land, he significantly reduces the human pressure on the primary Sacred Kaya Fungo Forest. Furthermore, he fosters a "green economy" by leasing space for community beekeeping, ensuring that local livelihoods are tied to protecting the trees rather than exploiting them.

The day of celebration emphasized the practical application of Mr. Mae’s life’s work and served to advocate for the protection and conservation of the Sacred Forest. The ceremony highlighted how his collaboration with other organizations led to the construction of a community water pan, which has secured the water necessary to sustain these tree-planting efforts even during dry seasons.

The 2025 People4Nature Awards underscored a powerful message: individual action, when rooted in cultural respect and community benefit, can ignite a regional transformation. Mr. Mae’s dual role as a traditional guardian and a modern environmentalist offers a scalable model for local custodians to lead the fight against climate change while preserving the "soul" of their ancestral forests.

Our APEAL

The Sacred Kaya Fungo Forest in Kilifi County is more than a collection of trees. It is a spiritual sanctuary and a vital defense against climate change. Yet this precious ecosystem faces persistent threats from timber poaching, illegal grazing, and the intensifying grip of drought. To save the forest, we must empower the people who live alongside it.

Our 2025 Global Person of the Year, Mr. Vincent Mwaringa Mae, has shown us the way. By dedicating 15 acres of his own land to restoration, he created a living pharmacy and a sustainable timber source, successfully shifting community pressure away from the sacred primary forest. His work proves that when traditional custodianship meets modern agroforestry, nature thrives.

Our goal and appeal are to scale Mr. Mae’s proven model throughout the Kaya Fungo region. Your donations will fund two critical pillars of restoration:

1. A Centralized Community Nursery: We aim to establish a high-capacity nursery to produce thousands of indigenous seedlings, including the Mibamba Kofi and Mdhungu. This nursery will supply the seedlings needed to reforest degraded buffer zones surrounding the Sacred Forest.
2. Beekeeping for Biodiversity: We are expanding Green Economy initiatives. By providing hives and training to local families, we create a powerful incentive. When the forest stays standing, honey flows. This provides a sustainable income, eliminating the need for charcoal burning or illegal logging.

Mr. Mae started with 15 acres and a vision. With your support, we can turn that vision into a regional transformation. Help us bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and a sustainable future.

Every tree planted and every hive hung is a step toward climate resilience. Thank you for standing with the guardians of Kaya Fungo.

Links:

• The Kaya Fungo Celebrations Photo Album
• The Sentinels of Nature
• The 2025 People4Nature Award Ceremony