Farmer Field School Tutors Trained

After several days of gruesome training, trainers of the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) finally graduated at a colourful ceremony in Nakuru recently in a ceremony presided over by the Deputy Director Forest Extension Services Mrs. Monicah Kalenda.

The FFS methodology is an extension methodology designed to reach farmers and encourage them to integrate tree planting and food crop farming apart from empowering farmers through capacity building to improve their livelihoods the establishment of various income generating activities.

The event was the culmination of several weeks of training which involved field visits to Farmer Field Schools in the Londiani area and other class work that will enable them adequately take farmers through the one year course. At the end of the course farmers are supposed to have learnt best farming practices which in turn improves their livelihoods.  

The trainees displayed the different things they had learned in the course which included group dynamics,  presentation skills and crop development analysis also known as AESA.

During the graduation ceremony, the guest of honour read a congratulatory message from the Director and reminded them that the concept of the FFS was to eradicate the rigid approach formally used by the government to promote tree planting among farmers. They were reminded that a lot was expected from them especially since this year had been designed as the “International Year of Forests”. 

The graduates were awarded with certificates.

Story by Rahab Gitau

KFS ENCOM DIVISION SENIOR OFFICERS HOLD ANNUAL WORKSHOP IN NAIVASHA

The annual meeting for the Senior Enforcement and Compliance Officers (ENCOM) held in Naivasha recently brought together Regional Commandants from all the ten KFS conservancies in the country and the School of Para-military Training, Londiani to discuss, formulate and develop ENCOM’s Standard Operating Procedure Manuals (SOPs).

the ENCOM Commandant Col. (Rtd) John Kimani opened the forum by thanking the participants in advance for their expected contributions and hoped that the manual will cascade to the people in the grassroots. He urged them to focus on the main challenges saying that saying that most of them had been raised in a previous meeting held in Nyeri.

The Commandant reiterated that the main aim of the workshop was to review the disciplined cadre Procedure Manuals which included processes and procedures for Investigation, Prosecution,  Prosecution, Inspection and Intelligence.

Mr. S. K. Mureithi who represented the workshop’s sponsors the Miti Mingi Maisha Bora Programme (MMMB)  gave a brief overview of ISO: 9001:2008 which generally required each department or division within KFS to document their processes.  He said that the ISO processes which KFS was now implementing will help in delivering quality services.

The Senior Deputy Director Mr. Emilio Mugo who graced the closing ceremony thanked the participant for a productive workshop saying that the SOPs will go a long way in improving services in the division which he termed as critical in the management of forests.

Report by Cpl. Rahab Gitau

Kenya Forest Service launches Misitu Golf Challenge

The KFS Director Mr. David Mbugua (c) addresses participants at the launch while the Secretary of the Kenya Golf Union Mr. Ted Macharia (r) and the CEO of Golf and Beyond Mrs. Jedida Kiarie listen keenly

The Director Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Mr. David Mbugua presided over the launch the second phase of  Misitu Golf Challenge at the Muthaiga Golf Club where he appreciated various sponsors and partners who supported the first of the tournament which was played across the country in 2010.

Mr. Mbugua said that the KFS was targeting to plant over 20 million seedlings this year through the tournament by urging people to take up tree planting. The director also emphasized on provisions of the new constitution which provides the establishment and maintenance of a 10% forest cover in order to deal with challenges of climate change and improve the lives of all Kenyans.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Golf and Beyond who are the organizers and managers of the tournament Ms Jedida Kiarie the main objective of Misitu Golf is to promote forestry through the game of golf by raising awareness on need to protect and conserve the forest. She added that corporate organizations were coming on board and partnering with KFS in the exercise.

Speaking at the event, the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) Secretary Mr. Ted Macharia appreciated efforts by KFS to reclaim and rehabilitate the country’s forests. He also thanked the Service for promoting golf in the country by sponsoring the tournament.

According to the Ambassador of Misitu Golf Challenge Mr. Patrick Obath, climate change was a reality and greening the country through adoption of environmentally sound practices including tree planting was the first step towards responding to it.

Story by Lilian Akoth & Picture by Emmah Nerima

KENYA FOREST SERVICE JOINS ESACO IN TREE PLANTING AT ELDAMA-RAVINE

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) joined Esageri - Sabatia Environmental Conservation Organization (ESACO) in an annual tree planting activity and the celebration of 10 years of conservation at Sabatia Forest, Koibatek District on 30^th April 2011. The event which was graced by Ambassador Nehemiah Rotich as the chief guest kicked off in the morning by arrival of guests at the Sabatia Forest Station planting site, among them Nairobi Environmental Enthusiasts, the local administration, KFS officials which was among the sponsors and the local community. 

A student plants a tree at the site

In his speech, Ambassador Rotich congratulated ESACO for their relentless efforts in forest conservation by setting a target of planting 50,000 trees every year for the next 15 years in addition to the individual target of 10 trees per person per year. He also urged the group to continue with the environmental awareness and tree planting programme with the hope to turn around the environment through sustained afforestation and reforestation of both public and private lands. He also asked them to continue inspiring the community to plant trees so as to rehabilitate degraded areas including rivers and catchment areas.

Giving his vote of thanks, the Forester for Sabatia Mr. Andrew Mbuthia thanked the entire community especially the students of Bakita Secondary School, local leaders, churches and youth for their involvement in the event.

Story by Mercy Ogolla and picture by Lilian Akoth

Workshop for Community Representatives Held

Participants of the workshop in a group photo

A training workshop to sensitize representatives of the Sengwer and Ogiek communities of Cherengany Hills and Mt.Elgon respectively was conducted by the Natural Resource Management Project (NRMP) in April in Eldoret North Rift Conservancy.

A Social Assessment Report that was done in June 2010 highlighted the historical background of the marginalized groups living within  the surrounding areas of the Cherengany Hills and Mount Elgon forests and identified the two communities as especially vulnerable.

One of the recommendations of the report was that the communities had no organized structures for engaging with NRMP which seeks to improve livelihoods through sustainable management of the natural resources including the restoration of natural forests. As a result the committees were formed to act as a communication channel between project and the communities.

The formation of the structures was led consultants and involved a process of awareness creation intended at enlightening communities on the objectives and mandate  of the project and why it was necessary to elect community representatives to form the committees.

Community mobilization was done through various government offices that included Provincial Administration, Gender and Social Services and Kenya Forest Service, It aimed at telling the community about NRMP and its benefits to the community. The election process was a democratic one, where locals would propose names as they all seconded.

After the training the Ogiek committee members had another workshop which was held in Kitale later on in April whose aim was to develop a prototype action plan for implementation of livelihood support activities for vulnerable and marginalized groups. The activities will ensure the groups benefit from the forest while conserving it.

During both trainings  World Bank representatives talked about the organization’s  role and mandate in NRMP which is co-unded by the government of Kenya in a programme that will  assist the government to better manage water and forest resources.

The forestry component which is being executed by Kenya Forest Service (KFS) enables community participation in the forestry sector, institutional reforms as well as enabling community participation in forest management.

The workshop was addressed by among others the Senior Deputy Director for KFS Mr. Emilio Mugo, the Deputy Director for Extension Services Mrs. Monicah Kalenda and the Project Coordinator Mr. Yakhama Inganji among others. The training was officially closed by the Deputy Director for Natural Forest Conservation and Management Mr. Esau Omollo.

Story and picture by Emmah Nerima