Youth-Led Habitat Restoration Project Revives Buffalo Rangelands in Kenya

Written by Gloria Kosgey

In honor of celebrating World Environment Day, we lead by acknowledging the impact the indigenous Kenyan youth are playing in land restoration. We explore how KWT’s scholarship program is a key driver to reviving damaged ecosystems.

The Conservation Leadership Program demonstrably enhanced its development of future conservation leaders in 2020. By fostering the launch of a green initiative, the program actively contributed to achieving Kenya’s 2030 vision for environmental sustainability. It further emphasized beneficiary engagement, recognizing the value each participant brings in creating sustainable communities for all.

In 2021, with the initiative of two young individuals, the message of environmental action and ecosystem restoration began. Today, three years later, a dedicated team of 23 young leaders continues to champion this crucial cause.

At the Wildlife Research Training Institute (WRTI) in Naivasha, beneficiaries of the Conservation Leadership Program (CLP) are leading a project focused on habitat reforestation for buffaloes. This initiative aims to mitigate buffalo habitat loss through a two-pronged approach: raising awareness about the issue and actively restoring deforested areas with native tree species.

The young leader students are now collaborating closely with WRTI officials in several key areas: establishing tree nurseries, nurturing the seedlings, overseeing their transfer and planting in affected areas, participating in buffalo censuses conducted by the institute, and utilizing this data to develop educational materials on buffalo conservation.

“The best thing that the world can do is to help tap on some of these solutions to halt, and reverse forest loss and land degradation, scale them up, and make sure that these are the stories that are being told out there – stories of resilience but also stories to let the world know that we, the youth from Africa, are doing the best we can now.”

These words by Kenya’s celebrated youth environment and climate activist, Liz Wathuti, echo the essence of CLP’s youth-led and run green project. These young men and women from rangeland ecosystems have recognized that top-down solutions will never be equal to the challenges they face and that the preservation of these vital ecosystems must ultimately be a process that is owned by the people.

As Yvonne, a CLP beneficiary, states, “If you are working on something you care about, you don’t have to be pushed.”

Impact in Numbers

  • 5 Tree nurseries constructed
  • 10,000 Tree seedlings planted

    Acacia xanthophlea and Croton megalorcapus

  • Participated in 1 Buffalo census at WRTI
  • 500 Acres of land rehabilitated
  • 2 Tree planting holidays commemorated
  • Participated in 2 Awareness creation campaigns

With a focus on a blend of academic and professional, theoretical and practical aspects, addressing the interests of beneficiaries in combating climate change is bearing fruit. We continue to be amazed at the greatness that is blooming. A generation restoration!

You too can invest in the long-term preservation of Kenya’s ecosystem by sponsoring a conservation leader through the Conservation Leadership Program. Partner with us to scale up efforts in mentoring climate-smart youth.