The government through Kenya Forest Services (KFS) has partnered with Dutch company IDH to conserve 60,000 hectares of Mau forest. 

According to KFS, through the Initiative for Sustainable Landscapes (ISL), IDH will restore and take overall conservation of the South West Mau Forest. 

The Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Alex Lemarkoko on Sunday held bilateral talks with Daan Wensing, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IDH on how to deepen the collaboration.

“IDH through the ISLA project, has already partnered with the service in restoring about 1,200 hectares and construction of four ranger outposts,” KFS noted in a statement. 

Additionally, IDH is expected to mobilise resources to put up a fence along the boundaries of the forest and upscaling of the forest alert system to Bomet County and other devolved units that border the Mau Forest Complex. 

With 1,200 hectares already conserved, IDH aims to raise the number to 60,000 hectares in six years. 

“We build on the interest of tea and other companies to conserve the South West Mau Forest for its microclimate services of the Kenyan government to improve livelihoods of communities,” IDH states on its vision for the Mau Forest. 

The area IDH is conserving is part of the larger 400,000 hectares of Mau Forest Complex which is the country’s main water tower. 

In the initiative, the foreign company will conserve vast lands covering Nakuru, Kericho and Bomet counties. 

President William Ruto has been at the forefront of restoring and conserving Kenya’s forest cover through an ambitious plan of planting 15 billion trees by 2023. 

On November 13, Kenya observed a public holiday specifically set aside for tree-planting nationwide.