The future of Mt. Elgon’s Ecosystem and communities is interconnected. At Saboti Forest Station, the Patron of Mt. Elgon Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Program (Mt. Elgon-ICLIP), Harry Kimtai (CBS) PS State Department for Mining, joined the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa, EGH, for an engagement focused on strengthening sustainable forest management, community participation and improved livelihoods.
During the engagement, the Cabinet Secretary directed the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to work closely with Community Forest Association under the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (PELIS)- a move aimed at strengthening community participation in forest conservation while expanding tree growing and improving livelihoods.
The Patron encouraged the communities to embrace the opportunities presented by Sustainable Forest Management by actively participating in the development of the Mt. Elgon Ecosystem. He continued to emphasise on the immense potential of the ecosystem noting the region’s ecotourism potential and agricultural value chains offering complementary pathways towards improved livelihoods and community resilience.
The engagement brought together a broad range of stakeholders who demonstrated the shared responsibility of government institutions, communities and partners in protecting forest ecosystems and supporting sustainable development.
For Mt. Elgon- ICLIP, meaningful community participation is central to achieving lasting conservation outcomes. Empowering communities to become stewards of their natural resources can help strengthen forest restoration while contributing to household resilience and local economic development.
Together, we are building a greener, more resilient Mt. Elgon
