December 2011 was a busy month for the residents of South Aberdares ( Kereita and Uplands forests) and Hombe forest in Mt Kenya, when they joined staff from NIC Bank, Unilever, Kenya Defense Forces,
Africa Point in planting more than 60,000 seedlings in the degraded sites of the forests.

The events saw staff from NIC Bank and Unilever Ltd mingle with local people and Kenyan Soldiers
in planting a variety of indigenous seedlings particularly those species that population has been affected
negatively by uncontrolled activities. 40,000 seedlings were planted in Kereita forest through the support of Unilever Ltd and Kenya Defense Forces, 10,000 Seedlings in Uplands by NIC Bank and 10,000 seedlings in Hombe Forest courtesy of Africa Point.

All the seedlings were bought from the local farmers and seedling growers as a way of motivating
them. In Uplands, Michael Gachanja, Deputy Director, East African Wild Life Society commended NIC Bank for their continuous support in conservation of forests through Tupande Pamoja. “The gesture
by NIC is a demonstration that private sector have a key role to play in securing Kenyan forests and contributing to better lives for the forest adjacent communities’ said Gachanja, “It is a better way of promoting the bank’s social responsibility and its green policies”.

Over the last decade, Kereita, Uplands and Hombe forest, just like many other Kenya forests have greatly depleted by illegal human activities. NIC National Bank, Unilever, African Point were responding to an appeal by Tupande Pamoja, that is spearheading a reforestation programme in Kenya.

Tupande Pamoja is a joint initiative by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the East
African Wild Life Society, Kenya Forests Working Group and Nature Kenya in collaboration with the
Kenya Forest Service (KFS). It aims at forging partnership between public / private corporations or
institutions and local communities to rehabilitate Kenya’s forested water catchments.

By David Kuria