Our ongoing Yorkshire Rainforest Project has pledged to protect an area of rainforest the size of Yorkshire – and this year we’re focusing our efforts on planting trees in Kenya.

We’re working alongside Nature Kenya and three community led groups, one of which, KENVO, carries out conservation work in Kenya’s Kikuyu Escarpment Forest.

To get an idea of the work on the ground, here’s our Q&A with Nelson (that’s him in the picture above).

He has a key role in KENVO, he believes passionately in what he does, and has high hopes for the future.

What is your role in KENVO?
I joined KENVO in 2006 as a volunteer. I was later taken on as a project officer assisting in an eco-agriculture project which deals with farmers and agricultural activities. For three years after this I supervised an international youth exchange programme, which mentors young people to become global citizens.
I later became, and still am, the Head of Department in the KENVO Rehabilitation and Livelihood Improvement Department, which manages tree planting, forest restoration and the schools programme.

Tell us about forest restoration and its effects on the community
Forest restoration is an important aspect of environmental conservation, not just in Kereita on the Kikuyu Escarpment, but also nationally and globally. I have a passion for nature and its services to the human race and other wildlife.
While conserving the environment and restoring the original status of neighbouring forests, we are helping community members to generate income to boost their livelihoods. The schools programme is an avenue for encouraging young people to have a positive attitude to environmental conservation and to respect our forest and its services.

What are your hopes for the future?
I hope that future generations will benefit from the efforts made by KENVO and other groups and individuals. I hope that our children’s children will not suffer the same level of environmental degradation that I witness today.
I also hope that future generations will have a positive attitude towards valuing natural resources and will be passionate about taking care of them.

You can find out more about our Yorkshire Rainforest project here.