Today, Thogoto Forest, on Nairobi’s northwest edge, is dotted with open spaces that locals and environmentalists say have been illegally cleared of trees by loggers and property developers. The destruction motivated the 49-year-old to join hands with a dozen other farmers from Karinde village to protect Thogoto’s trees through projects such as bamboo farming and beekeeping. Violet Matiru, a conservationist with Millennium Community Development Initiatives (MCDI), a local environment charity, said grassroots projects had become necessary to protect Nairobi’s forests. “City forests are always on the radar of land grabbers because of the value they hold. Group members act as tour guides, charging each visiting party Sh1,500 ($14) for the chance to hike through Thogoto forest and go on retreats.

Source: Standard Digital January 02, 2021 12:56 UTC