Improving the Quality and Quantity of Ecosystem Services project manager Ben Chege (L) with his assistant Erick Tetea Nahama addressing the press in Eldoret on June 28, 2017. [Photo: hivisasa.com]
Communities living around forested areas in some parts of North Rift, Western and Nyanza regions are set to benefit from a programme that seeks to help conserve Cherangany Hills and Mt Elgon water towers.
The Water Towers Protection and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Programme (WaTER) that is being jointly funded by the national government and the European Union (EU) aims at improving locals livelihoods by involving the communities in activities that will also help conserve the forests.
According to Ben Chege who is in charge of Improving the Quality and Quantity of Ecosystem Services project, the initiative is targeting 11 counties that are within the Mt. Elgon and Cherangany Hills ecosystem.
The counties are Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, Siaya and Kisumu.
"We are seeking to improve livelihoods by allowing economic activities like bee keeping in forests which we believe will at the same time allow the communities help us conserve the forests," noted Chege in Eldoret on Thursday.
The initiative also targets at ensuring about 200 acres of forested areas that have been degraded are rehabilitated.
"We've mapped out areas across the ecosystem and identified the forests where we are targeting to plant trees in at least 100 acres before the end of this year," said Erick Tetea Nahama, Assistant Project manager.
"Some of the degraded forests include Sengalo in Uasin Gishu and Saboti at the base of Mt. Elgon in Bungoma among others," he added.