In 2006, Green Belt Movement began restoring Kenya’s Aberdares after years of human pressure. 18 years later, 3.8 million trees had been planted across 2,000 hectares

In 2006, the Green Belt Movement began work to restore degraded areas of Kenya’s Aberdares Forest after years of pressure from human activity. The project focused on planting trees, protecting the forest and helping nearby communities find better sources of income. Over the years, millions of trees were planted as restoration efforts continued, as per a report by AFD France and the Green Belt Movement.



The Aberdares Forest has long been an important part of Kenya’s natural landscape and one of the country’s remaining primary forests. It is also a major water source for Nairobi, making the health of the forest closely connected to the capital’s water resources.


But years of human pressure had taken a heavy toll. Logging, charcoal production, pasture, cultivation and housing construction were putting increasing pressure on the ecosystem. Although these activities were illegal, demographic pressure continued to drive them.

In 2006, the Green Belt Movement, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, sought support from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to begin restoring degraded areas of the Aberdares and work with communities living around the forest.

How did the restoration begin?

The project took a broad approach rather than focusing only on planting trees. It included the creation of nurseries, with a target of producing 4 million plants, followed by tree planting across degraded areas.

The project planned to replant trees on 2,000 hectares while also increasing awareness about the importance of forest protection. Civil society groups, including local NGOs and women's groups, were involved in efforts to encourage greater community participation in conservation.

Another important part of the project was helping people living near the forest diversify their sources of income. The initiative also promoted profitable alternatives to forest products, with the aim of developing an approach that could eventually be used to rehabilitate other forest ecosystems.

According to the Green Belt Movement, the project ultimately resulted in 3.8 million trees being planted. About half were planted across 2,000 hectares of forest, while the other half were planted on 1,900 hectares of public sites or community areas.

What did the project achieve?

The restoration effort went beyond putting trees in the ground. The Green Belt Movement describes its work as a combination of environmental conservation, community empowerment and livelihood improvement, with tree planting used as an entry point.

Founded by Wangari Maathai in 1977 under the auspices of the National Council of Women of Kenya, the Green Belt Movement has become known for grassroots environmental conservation and its work empowering communities, particularly women.

Its programs include reforestation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, water harvesting, gender-based advocacy and the creation of sustainable livelihoods.

The organization's mission centers on better environmental management, community empowerment and improved livelihoods. Its stated values include love for environmental conservation, self and community empowerment, volunteerism, accountability, transparency and honesty.

Why did communities matter?

The Aberdares project recognized that protecting a forest also required working with people living around it. Awareness efforts sought to strengthen understanding of forest conservation, while livelihood diversification aimed to provide alternatives for communities dependent on resources around the forest.

The Green Belt Movement also connects tree planting and restoration with climate resilience. Its climate response emphasizes restoring degraded land, protecting watersheds, increasing carbon sequestration and creating sustainable livelihoods.

Wangari Maathai's work in raising awareness about the importance of forest conservation earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. Her work through the Green Belt Movement helped place community-based environmental conservation at the center of efforts to protect forests and improve livelihoods.

The Aberdares restoration project brought these ideas together through tree nurseries, replanting, community awareness and alternative income opportunities. According to the Green Belt Movement, millions of trees were planted across forest, public and community areas, helping advance the rehabilitation of degraded parts of the ecosystem.

The project also offered a methodology that could be replicated for the rehabilitation of other forest ecosystems, while reinforcing the connection between healthy forests, stronger communities and protected water resources.

FAQs

How many trees were planted?
According to the Green Belt Movement, 3.8 million trees were planted.

Why was the Aberdares Forest important?
It is a major water source for Nairobi and an important forest ecosystem.