How economist helped to rescue Kaptagat forest from depletion

National Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo. [Courtesy]

Growing up at Kapkoi village in Elgeyo Marakwet County 57 years ago, National Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo just like any other rural boy was charged with herding the family’s livestock in the nearby forests.

The sprawling Kaptagat forest ecosystem spanning over 30,000 hectares offered a perfect grazing field for his family livestock and others from the local community surrounding the ecosystem and together with his peers, he relished an unparalleled atmosphere decked with flora and fauna.

The forest was a rich ecosystem in biodiversity hotspots and enhanced carbon sequestration that provided ecosystem goods and services due to its expansive natural vegetation.

Over the years, however, the ecosystem bringing together five forest blocks (Kessup, Sabor, Penon, Kaptagat and Kipkabus) diminished at an alarming rate as unbridled human activities including illegal logging, overgrazing and complicity of Kenya forest officials in implementation of sustainable forest management, conspired to deplete it.

Following hue and cry over the destruction, conservation enthusiasts began agitation for conservation of the ecosystem despite resistance from those benefiting from the destruction.

Between the early 2000s and 2020, at least 35 per cent of the forest had been destroyed, according to the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). By 2010, satellite images show the Kaptagat ecosystem was depleted with only small pockets of disconnected indigenous remaining despite forming a critical watershed providing water to major towns and communities in North Rift, Western and Nyanza regions.

After numerous futile attempts to rehabilitate the forest, in 2016 a sustainable marshal plan-‘Kaptagat integrated conservation programme’ was mooted to fast-track the rehabilitation of the ecosystem. The programme is an initiative under the patronage of Dr Kiptoo.

“Unfortunately, over 95 per cent of the forest ecosystem had been zoned for plantation – growing of trees for commercial purposes, leading to overharvesting. Through this programme, the focus on indigenous trees in the Kaptagat ecosystem is crucial because it serves as a significant water reservoir, providing support to the western parts of Uasin Gishu to Lake Victoria, so restoration will lead to an increase in water supply,” said Kiptoo.

He said climate change had exacerbated the situation and in recent years, rains have become unpredictable, causing insecurity in the agricultural sector.

“Alongside providing a diverse range of wood-based products, the forest also boasts state-of-the-art high-altitude training facilities for athletes and both local and international athletes train in the forest,” said the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programmes patron.

Kiptoo said the local community had many user rights back then and these were made without commensurate efforts to restore the forest and over time significant degradation of the forest was witnessed.

The first step was re-growing bamboo trees on wetlands, owing to the tree’s versatility in environmental conservation. In total, about 60 per cent of Kaptagat’s wetland is progressively being covered with bamboo and indigenous trees aged between one and five years old.

Elgeyo Marakwet County Ecosystems Conservator, Paul Koech noted trees, grasslands and wetlands and been lost but now streams and rivers at Kaptagat Forest have started flowing back due to the sustainable rehabilitation programme.

“The bamboo planting is a project that has been ongoing for five years now, and one can already see the regrowth of the wetland that had dried up. All these small streams are just coming back to life. Our wetlands are slowly taking shape,” said the KFS official.

Over the past seven years, the programme has spearheaded the restoration activities led by the Ministry of Environment, Climate change and Forestry among other stakeholders and have cumulatively restored over 2,225.2 ha translating to more than 1.8 million tree seedlings within the Kaptagat landscape through planting assorted indigenous tree seedlings and distribution of 263,000 high-value avocado seedlings to farmers in both Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu Counties.

To discourage locals from fetching firewood, the programme also involves installation of biogas to homesteads for use in cooking thus reducing pressure on wood fuel.

The project is aligned with President Ruto’s clarion call to combat effects of climate change by growing 15 billion trees to achieve a tree cover of about 30 per cent by 2032.

Locals expressed optimism over the programme terming it a sure bet in restoring the degraded forest and also improving their livelihoods.

Kaptagat Community Forest Association’s Vincent Chelimo said the restoration has been achieved through a meticulous forest management plan that brings together state and private sector.

“The community is marshalled to join CFAs to enjoy user rights that incudes tilling the forest land as they nurture tree seedlings, distribution of avocado seedlings and installation of biogas. It is worth to note that in less than a decade the forest that was a shell of former self is now restored,” he said.

Sabor CFA secretary Francis Kangogo said the programme is projected to install 28,000 households with biogas that would go a long way in cutting down the reliance of wood fuel from the forest.

Ms Salina Cheruto, a resident of Kabukto village, who was relying on the forest for livelihood but embraced avocado farming is now reaping benefits from the sale of the fruits.

“I embraced avocado farming in 2019 and I am excited that I earn over Sh20, 000 every month from the sale of the fruits,” she said.