Partnership to Boost Farming and Forest Conservation in Mt. Elgon Region

A new partnership between three key government organizations and the county governments of Trans Nzoia and Bungoma has been launched to boost maize and coffee production while conserving the Mount Elgon Forest. The initiative, dubbed the *Integrated Landscape Management for Conservation and Restoration of the Mt. Elgon Ecosystem*, brings together the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).

Governor George Natembeya, after meeting with the leadership of these organizations, announced that the project has been allocated over Ksh 683 million and will run for the next five years. The program aims to empower farmers by promoting agroforestry, which allows them to farm within designated forest areas while planting trees to sustain the environment.

“The initiative seeks to address both food security and environmental conservation by integrating farming with forest restoration efforts,” Governor Natembeya said. He emphasized that the program will not only improve livelihoods but also contribute to the region’s long-term environmental health.

Kenya Forest Service representative Charity Muthami stated that the program is part of the broader national goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032. The initiative targets the restoration of 7,000 hectares of land and aims to benefit 10,000 community members in Trans Nzoia and Bungoma counties.

“By the end of the five-year period, the program will have impacted over 60,000 farmers, giving them the tools to thrive in farming while conserving the environment,” said Muthami.

The partnership highlights a dual approach to sustainable development, where agriculture and forest conservation go hand in hand, ensuring both economic growth and environmental preservation.