Efforts to reclaim the lost glory of Cherangany Hills Forest ecosystem received a boost after the launch of a scientific roadmap for restoration.
The roadmap was launched today in Iten by CEC Water, Environment and Climate Change Jason Lagat and his Cooperative, Trade and Wildlife counterpart, Robert Kangogo.
The roadmap followed an assessment and mapping conducted in the ecosystem giving compelling evidence of the forest’s ecological and economic value.
The study was carried out by a consortium of partners led by Nature Kenya and funded by the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate.
The other partners include Kenyatta University, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), National Museums of Kenya (NMK) and the Cherangany Indigenous Peoples.
The assessments done in the area reveal that investing in restoration and sustainable management will offer significant returns now and in the future.
“I have gone through the study and it is a first of its kind giving us scientific data that pin point areas of intervention not only for biodiversity and climate action, but also for local livelihoods,” said Lagat.
The CEC said the study proposes the cultivation of high value crops as a way of restoring degraded areas of the ecosystem.
“This aligns well with our Governor H.E Wisley Rotich’s wealth creation smart strategy,” he said.
Dr. Paul Muoria, representing the consortium partners, presented the two study reports titled Cherangany Hills Forest Restoration Opportunity Assessment and Mapping & Ecosystem Services Assessment Reports.
Present at the function were various stakeholders who were involved in the assessments.
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