Kenya Forest Service partners with lobby to restore degraded Nyasoko forest

Several decades ago, Nyasoko Forest was a lush and thick forest and the area used to receive plenmty of rain.

But things took a shift when the locals engaged in massive logging.

In a bid to restore the lost glory, American Tower Corporation (ATC), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), and the Nyasoko community in Migori County is on a move to restore the Nyasoko Conservation Forest.

The success of this initiative depends on the collective efforts of all stakeholders in ensuring that these trees grow and flourish, this is what we aim to achieve

Joseph Wakiaga

The organizatins have embarked on serious afforestration to conserve the ecosystem.

During the restoration exercise Migori County KFS Conservator Joseph Wakiaga highlighted the importance of the tree-planting exercise in conserving the forest and protecting the area’s biodiversity.

Wakiaga further noted that the indigenous trees will give a new life to the ecosystem.

“The success of this initiative depends on the collective efforts of all stakeholders in ensuring that these trees grow and flourish, this is what we aim to achieve,” said Wakiaga.

Wakiaga also revealed that the KFS has plans to establish a Community Forest Service (CFS) to increase forest cover in Migori County which has one of the the lowest forest cover.

This he says was aided by the support of ATC, KFS, and other NGOs such as One Acre Fund.

As America Tower Corporation, we have been collaborating with KFS who are our landlords to help conserve the lands where we have erected our masts. We are committed to ensuring that we play our part in protecting the environment

Isaac Koome

Other Collaborations

Suna West Deputy County Commissioner Mbela Mutua noted that in collaboration with the community members, they had planted 2,000 trees in the Forest.

Mbela revealed that before the planting exercise at Nyasoko forest, they had already planted 160,000 trees in Suna West alone.

“We have planted 2000 trees today in this gazetted Nyasoko Forest. This was due to collaboration between ATC, KFS and the community members, and we are looking forward to doing more in partnership with NGOs like One Acre Fund,” he said

Isaac Koome from ATC reiterated their commitment to environmental conservation and explained that tree planting was part of their conservation plans across the country.

We will not allow anyone to mess with these young trees. As a community, our main will not be to protect them at all costs

Benson Omondi

He stated that ATC collaborated with KFS to conserve lands where they erected their masts.

“As America Tower Corporation, we have been collaborating with KFS who are our landlords to help conserve the lands where we have erected our masts. We are committed to ensuring that we play our part in protecting the environment,” he stated

The tree-planting exercise incorporated local leaders and community members who expressed their unwavering commitment to protecting the newly planted trees.

Benson Omondi, a community member, stated that they would safeguard the trees at all costs and sent a warning to any community member who will be found destroying the forest.

Omondi also noted that it is their sole responsibility to protect the Forest as they will be the immediate beneficiaries from it when it starts to catch the rain.

“We will not allow anyone to mess with these young trees. As a community, our main will not be to protect them at all costs,” said Omondi.

This tree-planting exercise is a step towards promoting environmental conservation and reforestation which are also directed towards addressing climate change.

By bringing together different stakeholders, the initiative demonstrates the power of partnerships in achieving common environmental conservation goals.

It is hoped that this event will inspire other organizations and communities to take up similar initiatives to conserve the environment