Across the drylands of northern Kenya and the foothills of Nepal, forests that faced drought, slow degradation and invasions of alien plant species are now springing back to life — thanks to the local communities that depend on them. With support from Germany’s International Climate Initiative, people across continents have taken the lead in restoring almost 300 hectares of damaged ecosystems, removing thousands of tonnes of invasive species, and planting and protecting tens of thousands native seedlings. The result is not just greener landscapes, but renewed local engagement, ownership, and resilience in the face of climate change.
The forest is everything
In Kenya’s Mukogodo Forest, Maasai tribesman Nicholas Kodei expresses what the land means to his people: “We call it Pasenai, meaning everything. The forest is our total dependence.” At nearly 30,000 hectares, the Mukogodo Forest is the country’s largest national forest reserve. It provides water, medicinal plants, grazing land, and wildlife habitats for indigenous communities – especially during times of drought. But this ecosystem has come under threat. Invasive plants like Opuntia stricta, a large cactus normally at home in the Americas, have spread quickly across degraded areas, crowding out and choking native vegetation and reducing the productivity of land that families rely on. In addition, drought has robbed the community of the means to cultivating crops and raising livestock.
Thousands of kilometres to the east, in Nepal’s Barandabhar forest, communities face similar challenges. The fast-growing vine plant Mikania micrantha, also originally from the Americas and locally known as the “green devil,” has taken over large swaths of forest, smothering biodiversity and threatening livelihoods. “This unique and rich forest is vital for biodiversity, local livelihoods and human health,” says Lila Nath Sharma of ForestAction Nepal. “Conserving it is no longer optional – it is essential.”
Bringing together traditional and modern resources in Nepal
In response to these growing threats, two locally-led reforestation efforts took root, supported by a combined total funding of around €275,000 from IKI Small Grants. In Nepal, ForestAction Nepal and several community forest user groups mobilized to remove invasive species and protect and nurture native trees.
Equipped with kutto hoes and simple tools, local residents – mostly women from disadvantaged backgrounds – cleared over 1,500 tonnes of invasive plants from nearly 200 hectares of forest. Once cleared, they planted 50,000 native seedlings to help the forest regenerate naturally.
A concerted effort for regeneration in Kenya
In Kenya, the organisation IMPACT (Indigenous Movement for Peace Advancement and Conflict Transformation) coordinated a similar effort in Laikipia County, reaching over 5,000 people across the Mukogodo Forest region after receiving approximately €170,000 in funding from IKI Small Grants. Youth were trained in tree nursery management, women led reforestation campaigns, and elders provided guidance in land-use planning. On 75 hectares of forest land, the alien cacti were cleared, grass seeds were sewn, and tree nurseries were built for crop farming.
“We’ve had five years of drought and we were trying to cultivate crops and we got nothing,” says Nicholas Kodei. “Now in our tree nursery we intend to propagate 10,000 seedlings every year. Already, we’ve harvested 20 tonnes of maize and 5 tonnes of beans.”
Turning thickets into compost, cactus into wine, marmalade and methane
After the clean-up, a particularly innovative outcome came from Nepal, where communities began turning the cleared invasive weed into compost. “The bushes are regularly cleared and converted into manure,” explains Kumar Gurung, a member of a local forest user group. “Compared to buffalo or chicken manure from the market, this compost makes our chilies, tomatoes, and paddy grow faster,” adds Deepak Lama, a local farmer.
Meanwhile, in Kenya, neighbouring communities in Laikipia County have found creative ways to put the invasive Opuntia stricta cactus species to good use. In another IKI Small Grants project with the local Institute for Peace Development and Innovation that is transitioning from use of firewood to use of biogas, the cactus is now being transformed into biogas, wine, and marmalade, turning an ecological challenge into a source of sustainable energy and income. Both of these examples of innovative uses not only help control the spread of invasive species but also boost local livelihoods and circular economies.
Local responsibility key to regreening sustainably
While the metrics added up for both projects are impressive – 275 hectares restored, 60,000 seedlings planted, over 1,500 tonnes of invasive species removed – the true success lies in the shift toward local ownership. In both Kenya and Nepal, communities have deepened their knowledge of ecosystems, developed practical land management skills, and rekindled ties to the forest. “The biggest positive we’ve seen is the community owning up to the management of the forests and surrounding rangelands,” says Lestan Kimiri of the ILMAMUSI Community Forest Association in Kenya.
Local solutions applied globally
From Chitwan in Nepal to Mukogodo in Kenya, these projects demonstrate how nature-based solutions – when led by local communities and backed by meaningful support – can restore not just ecosystems, but the relationships people have with their land. And how local solutions can be shared, adapted and applied globally. In late 2023, ForestAction Nepal was one of 11 IKI Small Grants organisations invited to Kathmandu to showcase their impact to an audience of peers, stakeholders and donors – and establish a working relationship with other reforestation projects. Likewise, IMPACT was one of 40 organisations invited to share its results with representatives of government, business, research and the donor community in Nairobi in early 2024. As Frank Krämer, Manager at IKI Small Grants, puts it: “One of our aims is for organisations to implement their projects and then share their solutions, learn from each other, and duplicate where possible. Locally tried and tested approaches to protecting and regreening forests are essential for a world we can all breathe in.”
More about the projects
Managing invasive species in community forests in Nepal | IKI Small Grants
ABOUT THE ORGANISATIONS
Indigenous Movement for Peace Advancement and Conflict Transformation (IMPACT) is a community-based organization founded in 2002. It addresses the root causes of exclusion and poverty affecting indigenous peoples by supporting grassroots movements, strengthening community resilience, and promoting sustainable land and climate practices.
ForestAction Nepal is a learning oriented, not-for-profit organisation working in forestry, agriculture and climate change. It was founded in 2000 and aims to achieve productive, sustainable and equitable natural resource management through action research, policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement at local, regional and national level.
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