Why: Old Bonjoge Forest is a 2,150 hectare forest near Kisumu City, the third largest city in Kenya. As the only nearby woodland, the forest is considered as the “lungs” of the rapidly growing metropolitan area. The forest is also a key watershed that drains to Lake Victoria, providing safe drinking water to the local communities. Much of Old Bonjoge Forest has been cleared to make room for the expanding population and the forest resources has been overharvested for fuelwood and timber. In 1983, the Kenya Forest Service created a plan to restore the native forests. Unfortunately, the restoration efforts did not lead to natural regeneration of the area. Instead, the forest became a landscape of invasive species. 

What: With your support, the goal of this project is to restore the Old Bonjoge Forest to provide the people of Kisumu City with clean air and water. To do this, invasive species will be removed, and valuable watersheds restored. We will be working with our planting partner, EarthLungs. This project entails setting up nurseries to produce tree seedlings to restore the richness of the forest. The planting of indigenous trees will also enable natural regeneration. To provide adequate livelihood for the local communities, we will be planting fruit and bamboo trees in the area. This contributes to the food security, income source, livelihoods of the local communities. In turn, lowering the risk of the area being overexploited and deforested again. 

Who: EarthLungs