Establishing a Biocultural Heritage Territory to protect Kenya’s Kaya forests
Key Facts
FUNDING SCHEME Main Project
VALUE £347,626
WHERE Kenya
Summary
Degradation of Kenya’s sacred “Kaya” forests threatens biodiversity and livelihoods: endemic trees for fuelwood/medicine/fruit; golden-rumped elephant-shrew; endemic butterflies; nutritious indigenous vegetables. Biodiversity in Kayas and landscapes will be protected and restored by: • Establishing a Biocultural Heritage Territory that empowers Kaya elders to enforce conservation rules; • Building capacity to generate alternative income; • Restoring endangered trees and elephant-shrew habitat; • Halving fuelwood consumption; • Restoring multi-purpose trees on-farm, reducing pressure on Kayas; • Restoring agrobiodiversity, butterflies and ecological connectivity.