Over 8,000 small hold farmers in Kenya are involved in this community tree planting project around the slopes of Mount Kenya. In a diverse geographical area with a number of micro climates, these farmers form community cluster groups to learn and share information. This can range from how to harvest seeds from local trees and raise a nursery to the environmental significance of tree planting to protect against drought and erosion.
The farmers are paid for each living tree, which are quantified annually by locally trained and employed project Quantifiers, and 70% of the carbon revenue generated from the sale of carbon offsets.
This project enables farmers to continue to use their land for subsistence agriculture and only plant trees on the amount of land they can afford to. The farmers are paid for each tree planted and will continue to collect revenues as the trees grow and sequester carbon, while gaining access to tree products, including food, fuel, and medicines.
The carbon value of the project areas is assessed by project Quantifiers who count trees and use battery-operated, GPS enabled palm computers to upload data and images material for carbon quantification. As more trees are planted and existing trees mature, the impact of deforestation on greenhouse gas emissions will continue to be mitigated, the pressure on the protected forests around Mt. Kenya will be reduced, and biodiversity will be enhanced over the long term.
This community reforestation project contributes to sustainable development by: