TREE PLANTING
FOR WATERSHEDS
The Integrated Watershed
Management Approach
A Green Belt Movement Experience
OVERALL OBJECTIVE
To restore the degraded watersheds
of key water catchments / forest ecosystems
so as to improve their functions
and improve the livelihood of the local communities
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
• To rehabilitate degraded watersheds by replanting local
species. This will continue to maintain hydrology, the soil,
carbon sequestration and the biodiversity of the forest.
• To support and diversify, in a sustainable manner, the sources
of income of the neighbouring population of the forest by
generating income from tree planting activities and promoting
an alternative and profitable use of the forest.
• To restore habitats for local biodiversity and promote
ecologically sound community initiatives.
THE FIVE MAJOR WATER TOWERS IN KENYA
WHAT IS A WATERSHED?
A region or area of land
where all of the water on it
ultimately drains to a
particular watercourse or
body of water.
If you track a drop of water
that falls anywhere on the
watershed, it will flow out
through the same
watercourse eventually.
HEALTHY INDIGENOUS FOREST IN MT. KENYA
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE
FOREST DESTRUCTION
Source: UNEP
THE SHAMBA SYSTEM: FARMING IN THE FOREST
SOIL EROSION
Charcoal Burning
Logging
Consequences:
Search for Water
THE GREEN BELT MOVEMENT FOCUS
Green Belt Movement’s strategic plan
A values-driven society of people who consciously work for continued
improvement of their livelihoods and a greener, cleaner world
V
We strive for better environmental management, community empowerment,
and livelihood improvement using tree-planting as an entry point
5+ Years
S
Effective execution of
watershed-based tree
planting and forest
restoration and
conservation
2-4 Years
Begin to implement watershed
approach
E
12-18
Months
Identify sites for centralized GBM
tree nurseries for in-forest tree
planting sites
Develop standardized training
modules and train field staff to
deliver a broader range of CEE
trainings to community groups
Robust internal systems
and structures to ensure
program integrity
National and international
campaigns, communications
and advocacy
Conduct capacity development and
training program
Create management structure for
delivery of advocacy – national and
international
Operationalize departmental
systems (admin, programs, HR,
finance, IT, etc)
Engage national stakeholders to
influence environmental
policy/legislation
Develop policies and procedures
manuals
Document and share linkages
between policy and practice
Develop performance management
system
Review organizational structure
Roll out across GBM network and
partners a CEE curriculum on
climate change mitigation and
adaptation
Foster and sustain global campaign
messaging on forests, tree planting,
UN role, and Mottainai
WHY PRIORITY WATERSHEDS
GBM HAS BEEN
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES
IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY TO PLANT TREES IN
AND AROUND THE WATER CATCHMENTS.
CURRENTLY THE FOCUS IS ON CRITICAL WATERSHEDS
GRASSROOT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
TREE NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT
MASSIVE PRODUCTION OF SEEDLINGS
COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING
REHABILITATION SITE
COMMUNITY BASED WATER MONITORING IN UPPER TANA
The Green Belt Movement has been doing environmental conservation,
community empowerment and livelihood improvement for over 31
years.
To assess and demonstrate the impact of environmental conservation
GBM in partnership with GWW is empowering communities to be able
to monitor water resources at the grassroots.
The overall goal is to make communities comfortable to be able to take
good samples and get credible data. This initiative demonstrates the
relationship between flow and quality/purity of rivers and springs and
tree planting in the watersheds.
BACTERIOLOGICAL MONITORING SUPPLIES
Coliscan Easygel
Medium
Petri Dishes
Sterile Pipette
Thermometer
Incubator
GWW Standards Used for Bacteriological Monitoring
Number of E. coli per 100 mL
STOP!
>600 relatively unsafe for human contact
CAUTION!
200-600 increasing risk for human illness
GO!
<200 relatively safe for human contact
BAMBOO BIOMASS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROJECT
• GBM IS PROMOTING CLEAN ENERGY AND CREATING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN TO DO BUSINESS.
• THIS PROJECT FEATURED IN THE 24 HOUR CLIMATE
REALITY
PAYMENT
FOR Systems
ECOSYSTEM
(PES) Change with Habitat
Freshwater
and Biodiversity
Size, slope, substrate
Zones of a River System
THE LEGACY OF THE LATE PROF. WANGARI MAATHAI
LIVES ON
THANK YOU