Communities, agencies unite to restore Kenya's vital water tower

Under the towering canopy of South West Mau Forest, Daudi Maritim carefully inspects newly planted seedlings at Trigoi—an area once stripped bare by illegal logging and encroachment.

His eyes scan the vast, flourishing landscape, where young trees now stand as a testament to nature’s resilience. The air is crisp, filled with the scent of damp earth and rustling leaves.

Just a few years ago, this section of Mau Forest lay scarred. Today, it is a beacon of renewal.

As Maritim moves from tree to tree, his fingers gently brush the tender leaves of Dombeya torrida and other indigenous species now thriving in an area once dominated by axes and saws.

“This place was almost barren , encroachers had cleared everything leaving only  stumps, but today, the trees are returning, our Mau forest is healing”, said Maritim who is one of the community forest scouts.

For decades, South West Mau—a critical part of the greater Mau Forest complex—suffered immense destruction from illegal logging, charcoal burning, and encroachment. Rivers dried up, rainfall patterns became erratic, and biodiversity dwindled.

Despite the devastation, local communities, conservation groups, and government agencies have united to reverse the damage. Their collaborative efforts in reforestation, sustainable livelihoods, and conservation education are breathing new life into one of Kenya’s most crucial water towers.

Maritim and his fellow scouts patrol the forest daily. They serve as the eyes and ears of Kenya Forest Service officers, gathering intelligence on illegal activities, including logging and charcoal burning—two of the greatest threats to Mau’s survival. They also ensure that the protective fence remains intact.

“In 2023, we helped arrest two people burning charcoal. Just recently, in 2024, two others were caught burning charcoal and another cutting posts illegally—they were all taken to court in Molo,” he recalled.

Leading the charge is the Rhino Ark Charitable trust, working alongside the Kenya Forest service and the Community forest associations (CFAs).

“We began our restoration work in 2018. Since then, we’ve rehabilitated over 150 hectares in South West Mau, including 70 hectares in Trigoi alone. Maintenance takes place twice a year and involves clearing weeds, replacing dead seedlings, and ensuring the young trees thrive,” said Thomas Mutai, an outreach officer at Rhino Ark.

He added, “We work with 46 schools bordering the forest, where our champions conduct conservation education. We also have 15 community conservation champions—volunteers from each ridge—who act as ambassadors, spreading awareness and leading tree-planting efforts. Their work has helped reduce forest fires and illegal activities by 90 per cent.

Among the most innovative conservation initiatives is beekeeping, a project that has given women in the area both financial independence and a reason to protect the forest.

For herbalists like Josephine Kipsang and Richard Kiplangat , the Mau Forest is a living pharmacy.  

“We have  been trained to take only what we need, carefully harvesting either bark, leaves or roots to ensure the plant survives,” says Kiplangat.