“HSHC aims to contribute to improved quality of life of forests-adjacent communities in Kenya through facilitation of innovative economic opportunities in sustainable agriculture and natural resource utilisation.”

Benefits of trees

Unlike agriculture, trees don’t require a lot of labour which is an additional advantage for the already burdened farmers. Another important reason to establish woodlots is the firewood and construction materials they provide. Having trees on-farm releases especially women from the heavy task of carrying firewood over long distances back to their home. Because trees add organic material to the soil and the roots break the so-called hard pan, planting trees also benefits agriculture. This is a big incentive for women who are largely responsible for land preparation and crop production. One such woman is Mama Wacuka. She planted several species of trees dominated by sesbania sesban on a ½ acre piece of land that was absolutely useless. Nothing could grow on it. After three years she cut the trees and planted maize and potatoes. “I got a harvest that astonished the villagers. In that ½ acre, I harvested 15 bags of potatoes and 8 bags of maize. Everybody in the village is asking about the trick”.