GBM Blog

The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum hails GBM’s rehabilitation of Chepalungu forest in the Mau Complex

February 12, 2015 - 10:10AM
Published by Communications

On 9th February 2015, a team of officials from Green Belt Movement (GBM), the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) visited Chepalungu forest where GBM, in partnership with the Ministry, is implementing a rehabilitation project. 

The team inspects one of the seedlings in the project area

The project aims at restoring 156.8 hectares by planting 248,000 seedlings. The team, led by the Deputy Director Renewable Energy in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, held a meeting in Bomet County at the Ecosystem Conservator’s officer before proceeding to the planting site. In her remarks, Easther Wang’ombe, the project lead from the Ministry, applauded GBM’s project management and community mobilization, stating that this is the best among all the projects the Ministry is implementing in the country.

The team was very impressed by the survival rate of the seedlings planted in November 2014; the height of the seedlings was also quite remarkable. KFS representatives commended the project, especially the high survival rate of the seedlings and fencing of the project area to allow natural regeneration to pick up.

The Deputy Director from the Ministry hailed the good working relationship GBM has established with the community on the ground. He was equally impressed by the ‘cut and carry’ strategy by GBM to allow community members to harvest grass in the fenced off project area rather than allowing the animals to graze inside.