The launch of the GEF-7 funded project on Strengthening Forest Management for Improved Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Resilience

The launch of the GEF-7 funded project on Strengthening Forest Management for Improved Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Resilience in the Southern Rangelands of Kenya took place on 7th June 2024 at Enoomparbali Primary School in Narok County.

Speaking during the event, the chief guest CS Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Hon. Soipan Tuya stated that the government will ensure maximum impact, accountability and transparency in the implementation of development partnership projects.

This is a key consideration in the ongoing alignment of partner-supported climate action projects with the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) to ensure job creation, food security and value chain approaches, she added. She further urged the communities to stop charcoal burning as this negates the government's effort to grow 15 Billion trees.

She said that the project on Forest Management in the Southern rangelands will facilitate clean cooking initiatives to the communities to stop the dependence on charcoal. The asked the County governments of Kajiado and Narok who are part of the project implementation to ensure there is oversight and only impactful projects are undertaken to completion.

"Have tangible impacts on the ground in both counties will set the pace for scaleup by donors. Priority should be given to areas such as livestock and water assets-boreholes for provision of water. NEMA Chairman Emilio Mugo stated that the Authority will ensure the project is community centred and driven by the priorities of the people in both Kajiado and Narok Counties.

This will eventually transform the lives of the community and fulfil the set components especially on climate change and environmental related issues.

"The project will be impactful to the communities in both Kajiado and Narok Counties where the project will be implemented for the next four years.

The Authority has tweaked the objectives of the project to mirror the needs of the community in the Southern rangelands, NEMA Director General, Mamo B. Mamo, EBS said.

GEF-7 is 4-year-Ksh 750M project under the broader umbrella of the Dryland Sustainable Landscapes Impact Programme (DSL-IP) which aims to avoid, reduce and reverse further degradation, desertification and deforestation of land and ecosystems in drylands, through the sustainable management of production landscapes in both Kajiado and Narok. Its being implemented by NEMA in close coordination with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and other partners.

The event was also attended by The Narok Deputy Governor Hon. Tamalinye Koech, The Speaker of Narok County Assembly Hon. Solian Dikirr, The Kajiado West MP, Hon. George Sunkuyia, Environment & Climate Change PS Eng. Festus Ngeno, Chairperson of the Environment Committee of Narok County Assembly Hon Leah Ntimama, the CeCM Environment from Kajiado County Dr. Leina Mpoke as well as the IUCN Kenya Country Director and a host of other leaders.