Aberdare forest rebounds: Over 500ha restored, farmers boost income with nature-based enterprises

The once heavily degraded Aberdare Forest is now bouncing back: greener, richer, and more resilient. Thanks to a five-year Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) initiative that has combined environmental restoration with the improvement of livelihoods for forest-adjacent community members. Between 2020 and 2025, over 547 hectares of the forest have been restored, while many farmers living nearby are harvesting the rewards of sustainable farming, particularly through the cultivation of red tamarillos, commonly known as tree tomatoes.

Led by WWF-Kenya and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through its BENGO – Climate funding facility, the FLR project has turned forest restoration into an engine for both ecological and economic revival. Working with 447 tamarillo farmers and local institutions, the project also complements Kenya’s national ambition to restore 5.1 million hectares of land under the AFR100 initiative by 2030.

A restoration model that pays off

Despite climate shocks, including drought in 2022 and flooding in 2024, the initiative exceeded its original restoration goals. More than 441,000 seedlings were planted across the Aberdares, achieving a 65% survival rate. Bamboo was also introduced to 80,000 riparian zones to stabilize riverbanks and safeguard water catchments, especially along the Mkungi and Kitiri rivers.

But the impact of the project has gone well beyond tree planting. By piloting two inclusive green enterprise models, the project helped convert restoration into a source of income. Through the tamarillo value chain, farmers trained under the project collectively sold over 2.5 metric tonnes of fruit by March 2025, boosting their incomes by 54% and linking them to stable markets through newly formed cooperatives.

James Wainaina, a Kinangop-based farmer, says the change has been transformative: “This project gave me more than seedlings. It gave me market access, training, and a new future.”

James Wainaina is one of the 447 Forest Landscape Restoration project beneficiaries. James is seen here harvesting tamarillo fruits, which the local people call tree tomatoes.

Bamboo for youth, policies for sustainability

The second value chain focused on bamboo. With technical support from Eco Green and the Kinangop Vocational Training Centre, 10 local trainers of trainers (ToTs) were certified and went on to train 25 youth in bamboo artisanry, creating opportunities for sustainable youth employment.

At the policy level, WWF-Kenya and the National Community Forest Associations (NACOFA) contributed to the drafting of five forest governance frameworks, including the proposed Benefit Sharing Bill now before Parliament. These instruments aim to ensure that communities who conserve forests also share in their benefits, promoting equity alongside sustainability.

Sharing success beyond borders

The success of the Aberdare FLR project has even reached beyond Kenya. Through the PELIS (Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme) model where farmers intercrop trees with food crops while restoring forest land, Kenya has shared its restoration experience with partners in Tanzania and Zambia.

As the project concludes, it leaves behind a rejuvenated forest, strengthened livelihoods, and a blueprint for community-driven conservation that can be replicated across the region.