Atticus Foundation
GBM's tree-planting program in southwest Nyanza, Kenya is made possible by the support of the Atticus Foundation. The aim of this project is to facilitate environmental conservation and livelihood improvement in three densely populated constituencies of the Kisii District. This partnership was established in 2007 in an effort to address the environmental problems of soil erosion, deforestation, and pollution of both the surface & undergound water supplies. To date, over 515,075 trees have been planted by GBM communities in these areas.
The specific objectives of this project are:
1. To mobilize the community and instill a sense of social responsibility for the protection of the environment and restoration of natural ecosystems
2. Mass tree-planting in water catchments areas, forests, trust lands, and on farms
3. Soil and water conservation
4. Advocacy and networking
5. Support cultural environmental values that enhance local conservation efforts
6. Initiate income-generating activities, HIV/AIDS education, and provision of school bursaries to secondary students
About Southwest Nyanza, Kenya
Within the Kisii District of southwest Nyanza are the three constituencies where the project operates: Bonchari, South Mugirango, and Bomachoge.
The area lies on a highland equatorial climate and receives rain consistently throughout the year, although there are two main rainy seasons (March to May & October to November). The average rainfall is over 1500 mm, which supports cash crops (coffee, tea, pyrethrum) as well as subsistence crops (maize, beans, millet, potatoes). Temperatures range from 10 to 31 degrees Celsius. The area is mostly hills and is divided by rivers flowing into Lake Victoria, notably the River Gucha and River Mogusi.
Although GBM continues to place high priority on the five water towers, we have also expanded our involvement in southwestern Kenya to areas close to Lake Victoria. There is an urgent need to mobilize these communities and educate them about the importance of sustainable management of the last remaining natural resources on the land. In terms of development, many of these areas are relatively under-served and their forested areas have come under extreme pressure. In a regional context, these areas are also becoming of increasing concern as they are in the catchments basin of Lake Victoria. The deteriorating ecology of Lake Victoria is an issue with tremendous economic and ecological consequences for the entire region. The lake is also a major resource to support the fishing industry and connect the three East African countries (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) through waterways. The grassroots, community-based approach of GBM has an important role to play in improving the ecology of this important lake’s catchments basin.
The specific objectives of this project are:
1. To mobilize the community and instill a sense of social responsibility for the protection of the environment and restoration of natural ecosystems
2. Mass tree-planting in water catchments areas, forests, trust lands, and on farms
3. Soil and water conservation
4. Advocacy and networking
5. Support cultural environmental values that enhance local conservation efforts
6. Initiate income-generating activities, HIV/AIDS education, and provision of school bursaries to secondary students
About Southwest Nyanza, Kenya
Within the Kisii District of southwest Nyanza are the three constituencies where the project operates: Bonchari, South Mugirango, and Bomachoge.
The area lies on a highland equatorial climate and receives rain consistently throughout the year, although there are two main rainy seasons (March to May & October to November). The average rainfall is over 1500 mm, which supports cash crops (coffee, tea, pyrethrum) as well as subsistence crops (maize, beans, millet, potatoes). Temperatures range from 10 to 31 degrees Celsius. The area is mostly hills and is divided by rivers flowing into Lake Victoria, notably the River Gucha and River Mogusi.
Although GBM continues to place high priority on the five water towers, we have also expanded our involvement in southwestern Kenya to areas close to Lake Victoria. There is an urgent need to mobilize these communities and educate them about the importance of sustainable management of the last remaining natural resources on the land. In terms of development, many of these areas are relatively under-served and their forested areas have come under extreme pressure. In a regional context, these areas are also becoming of increasing concern as they are in the catchments basin of Lake Victoria. The deteriorating ecology of Lake Victoria is an issue with tremendous economic and ecological consequences for the entire region. The lake is also a major resource to support the fishing industry and connect the three East African countries (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) through waterways. The grassroots, community-based approach of GBM has an important role to play in improving the ecology of this important lake’s catchments basin.
