Overview of Social and Environmental Issues
Poaching in the National Parks close to Somalia and Ethiopia has been increasing in recent years and the Kenya Wildlife Service may close those parks because of the danger and expense. There has been extensive deforestation for firewood and other uses. Only 3% of Kenya’s original forest remains. There has been extensive cutting of native hardwood species by carvers and carpenters.

In early 2008 Kenya was encompassed by post-election violence, primarily in Western Kenya. The issues have not been resolved, despite the violence ending. Kenyans understand the importance of tree planting and there are many groups and individuals who want to work with Trees for the Future. There is population pressure on the arable land in Central and Western Kenya.

Our Response
Kenya has large projects throughout Central and Western Kenya. There are several demonstration farms that are being developed to educate local communities on sustainable agriculture and agroforestry. There are several reforestation projects in and near protected forests, such as Mount Kenya, and Kakamega Forest Reserve. Trees for the Future is working with several women’s groups and some local trade schools.

2008 saw a large expansion of the Kenya Program. Many organizations are interested in the program and tree planting. Trees for the Future distributed 300,000 seeds in 2008. In 2009, Trees for the Future hired a Kenya Country Coordinator for projects in Kenya

May 2010
The Trees for the Future Kenya Program continues to expand at a fast rate with projects now being implemented in seven out of Kenya’s eight provinces. Many more Local NGO’s and Community-Based Organizations have requested with Trees for the Future to receive tree seeds and technical assistance in agroforestry and tree nursery management. Most farmers that have been planting fodder trees are beginning to see an increase in milk and meat production. By April 2010, we have planted 430,000 trees throughout Kenya with our numerous partnering organizations, which total 104.

December 2009
Since late 2008, when Trees for the Future started working in Kenya, up through April 2009, we had  17 partnering organizations.   By the end of October 2009, the number of the groups has increased to more than 40 groups. In addition, the number of seedlings that are projected to be planted this year should increase by over 200%, from 300,000 planted in 2008 to 1,000,000 planted in 2009.

Our growth has come from the good working relationship established between Paulino, our Kenya Program Coordinator, and local organizations and government officials.  Parts of Kenya have finally started receiving large amounts of rainfall (for the first time this year). The current rainy season will allow the community groups to transplant the seedlings they have growing in their nurseries.. The rains are expected to continue through January, giving us time to plant hundreds of thousands of trees. The partnership between trees and local organizations has given TREES a great opportunity in reaching rural communities.

April 2009
The first trimester of 2009 for the Kenya Program has seen an important transition with the hiring of Paulino Damiano as the Kenya Program Coordinator to oversee and implement tree planting and agroforestry projects throughout Kenya. This transition will allow Trees for the Future to provide more direct supervision and implementation of the ongoing projects in Kenya, which will allow Trees for the Future and its partner organizations to plant more trees in 2009.