This initiative aims to expand and replicate phase 1 of the AFD project through rehabilitation of priority watersheds of other degraded sites of the Mau forest ecosystem. The project targets Mau Complex, a critical ecosystem whose waters feed into Lake Victoria and the Nile River. This is well-aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 and SDG 15 of the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development and also the AFD country strategy for Kenya 2018-2022.

The proposed Project seeks to conserve and restore the degraded Dundori, Nandi North and North Tinderet forest which are part of greater Mau forest complex while improving the livelihoods of surrounding communities. The project targets to introduce a paradigm shift from unsustainable land practices to sustainable management supported by forest conservation, incentives for ecosystem services and income generation through organized alternative livelihoods and nature-based enterprises on both public and at the on-farm level.

Through watershed-based reforestation approach, a total of 300 hectares of highly degraded forests will be brought under sustainable forest management. Bamboo, as a critical renewable resource with multiple co-benefits, will be integrated with reforestation alongside other woody species within the intervention sites.

Since climate change is the current main environmental problem facing humanity, the project will enhance the understanding of participants on climate change impacts and proposed mitigation and adaptation interventions to build resilience. Climate change affects agriculture, health, energy and infrastructure sectors. The capacities of communities will be built to understand the causes of these disruptions and supported to develop mitigation and adaptation strategies to deal with the consequences of climate change on their livelihoods.

Because knowledge management and information sharing of lessons, best practices are essential so that others can learn from GBM experience and help in fundraising to replicate and upscale those interventions. These will include adding new pages presenting all the current Projects including video clips, data on trees planted, on tree behaviour and growth, on household incomes increase due to wood production and other products and services. To facilitate optimal delivery of services and progress of the project, extension officers will be recruited and posted in the project sub-counties.

Project Overall Objective

The overall objective is to mobilize communities to restore biodiversity, improve water quality and quantity, and livelihoods through sustainable landscape management, watershed restoration and good governance practices by December 2024.

Specific Objectives are

1. To rehabilitate 300 hectares of degraded forest sites by replanting local indigenous species using the GBM ten (10) step watershed-based procedure. This will continue to maintain hydrology, the soil, forest biodiversity as well as sequester carbon.

2. To sustainably support and diversify the sources of income for 1200 community members neighboring the forest by generating income from tree planting activities and promoting alternative and profitable uses of the forest.

3. Support advocacy and networking initiatives on environmentally sound policies and actions for forest protection, management, and regeneration.

4. Develop a robust internal monitoring and GIS systems for effective delivery of the Community Livelihoods program