Lush tree canopy from the Bungoma school environmental programme

Legacy project

Bungoma Primary Schools Environment Project

A district wide school tree planting and environmental education programme, 2005–2010.

Overview

Learning that takes root in the schoolyard.

The Bungoma Primary Schools Environment Project emerged from a growing recognition that environmental restoration must begin with people, particularly young people, and with the landscapes in which they live and learn. Initiated through the Mary Munei Community Resource Centre (MCRC), it was conceived as a district wide tree planting and environmental education programme running from 2005 to 2010.

Its ambition was to mobilise schools, communities, government agencies and private-sector partners around practical environmental conservation, biodiversity and the restoration of tree cover across Bungoma District.

Students and community members planting a tree together at a Bungoma primary school

Bungoma District, Kenya2005–2010

Inspiration

Carrying forward the example of Wangari Maathai.

The programme was inspired by Professor Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, whose global leadership brought renewed attention to the inseparable relationship between the environment, communities and sustainable development. Her conviction that environmental restoration and human dignity are deeply connected shaped the programme’s spirit from the start.

Ambition and reach

Hundreds of thousands of trees. Nearly 300,000 children.

The programme sought to plant 5,000 tree seedlings in each primary school across Bungoma District, while promoting a diversity of trees for shade, windbreaks, timber, poles, firewood, fruit, fencing, beauty, soil conservation, indigenous knowledge and medicinal use.

It also emphasised appropriate species selection, quality seedlings and the management skills needed to ensure that trees survived and matured. Beyond planting, the programme was designed to provide environmental knowledge and extension services to more than 6,000 teachers and nearly 300,000 school children.

Trees for many purposes

—Shade and windbreaks
—Timber, poles and firewood
—Fruit, fencing and beauty
—Soil conservation
—Indigenous knowledge
—Medicinal use

Partnerships

Shared commitment from companies and public institutions.

A distinctive feature of the project was its commitment to partnership. Government departments, schools, communities and private-sector organisations were brought together around a common environmental objective. The project received important support and commitments from several companies, including:

Pan Paper Mills

Offered Eucalyptus grandis seedlings and follow-up visits to participating schools, and indicated willingness to purchase mature trees and firewood produced by the schools.

Mastermind Tobacco Kenya Limited

Committed 62,000 Eucalyptus seedlings, 4,000 Grevillea seedlings and additional indigenous varieties from its nursery programme.

BAT (K) Limited

Offered a quarter of the seedlings it planned to raise that year, including Grevillea, Casuarina and indigenous tree varieties.

Scanned record of the Primary Schools Environment Project stakeholders’ consultative meeting held at the Bungoma District Commissioner’s Office on 24 February 2005, listing attendees from government, private sector and Mary Munei Community Resource Centre — The original attendance record from the inaugural stakeholders’ consultative meeting: district officials, forestry and education officers, representatives of Pan Paper Mills, Mastermind Tobacco Kenya, BAT Kenya, and Mary Munei Community Resource Centre gathered around one table to shape the programme.

These partnerships demonstrated an important principle that remains central to the Foundation’s work today: meaningful landscape restoration requires collaboration across communities, government, schools, researchers and the private sector.

Legacy

From school compounds to a nine acre urban forest.

Although the formal project concluded, its legacy has continued to grow. The original site of the nursery has since developed into a nine acre urban forest, enduring proof of what sustained tree planting and stewardship can achieve.

—Environmental knowledge and extension services reached more than 6,000 teachers and nearly 300,000 school children
—Links were established with forestry authorities, KEFRI and local tree nurseries
—Practical guidance on tree husbandry and species suitability continued beyond the formal project close
—Ongoing tree planting support keeps the original commitment alive

From local action to landscape restoration

A continuing restoration journey.

This experience provides an important basis for the proposed Mount Elgon Ecosystem Restoration Initiative. The lessons learned from working across schools, communities, government institutions and private-sector partners — particularly the importance of local participation, ecological appropriateness, environmental education, quality planting material and long-term stewardship — can now inform a much broader landscape-level restoration effort.

What began in 2005 as an ambitious school based tree planting initiative has therefore evolved into a continuing restoration journey: from seedlings in school compounds, to a nine acre urban forest, and now towards a larger vision of restoring the Mount Elgon ecosystem, strengthening communities and protecting the ecological systems on which future generations depend.

Explore the Mount Elgon initiative

Gallery

The schools project, in pictures.

Alice Nabwera pointing at the Bungoma District Schools Environment Project signboard at Chemwa Primary School — Chemwa Primary School
Alice Nabwera of MCRC at the project board marking a designated planting site within the Chemwa Primary School compound.

Alice Nabwera standing with schoolchildren and a school official under trees at Chemwa Primary School — A project inspection visit
Alice Nabwera with Chemwa pupils and a school official during a routine inspection of the young woodlot.

Schoolchildren playing on a field with a mature woodlot of tall trees in the background — Chemwa woodlot
Pupils at play with the school woodlot standing tall behind them, planted through the project and tended by the school.

Green signboard describing the Bungoma District Primary School Environment Project at Sanandiki Primary School — Sanandiki Primary School
The project board at Sanandiki, listing the Forest Department, education board and private sector partners behind the work.

An established woodlot of tall slender trees at Sanandiki Primary School — Sanandiki woodlot
The Sanandiki woodlot is an established stand of trees, shading the ground and holding the soil.

A schoolboy speaking into a microphone beside a large tree with a seated crowd behind him — Pupil addressing the gathering
A pupil speaks into a microphone before a large community audience seated under the trees.

A large crowd of adults and schoolchildren seated on wooden benches under trees — Community turnout
Parents, teachers and pupils assembled on benches for a project event.

A close group of young pupils in school uniform looking towards the camera — Pupils at the ceremony
Schoolchildren gathered closely at a project gathering.

A man performing a dance on a school field with pupils watching — Song and dance
A performer leads entertainment on the school field during the event.

A row of officials seated at wooden tables outdoors during a project meeting — Officials in session
District officials and school representatives seated at the presentation tables.

Three officials seated at the head table outdoors during the proceedings — The top table
Officials chairing the proceedings.

A woman addressing a group of men under a tree beside rows of potted tree seedlings — Briefing beside the nursery
Alice Barasa Nabwera addresses participants beside a bed of potted seedlings.

A group of officials and community members standing together on a prepared planting site — Field walk
Officials and community members inspecting the planting site.

A woman watering a newly planted seedling with a watering can as onlookers watch — Watering the first seedling
The ceremonial watering of a newly planted seedling.

Three people standing arm in arm among trees at the resource centre — Visiting friends
Visitors welcomed at the resource centre grounds.

Four participants writing at a workshop table with planning charts on the wall behind them — Planning workshop
Participants working through project plans at a district workshop, with targets charted on the wall behind them.

Hundreds of pupils in blue uniform assembled under trees in a school compound — The whole school turns out
Pupils assembled in the school compound for a project event, with Alice Nabwera at the right of the frame.

A column of pupils in green uniform standing on a school field with classrooms behind — Marching in
Pupils in green uniform forming up on the school field.

Alice Nabwera receiving a gold trophy from an official indoors — Trophy presentation
Alice Nabwera receiving a trophy on behalf of the project.

A man in a blue suit addressing officials seated at outdoor tables — Addressing the meeting
A project representative speaking to officials seated at the tables.

A young man in an MCRC branded shirt speaking while standing among a seated crowd — A voice from the community
A resource centre volunteer contributing to the discussion before a large gathering.

A man seated on a desk in conversation with community members on a school field — Discussion on the benches
An exchange with participants seated at desks on the school field.

Secondary school students in uniform watching a tree being planted — Planting with the secondary school
Students gathered as a tree is planted and firmed into place.

An official watering a newly planted seedling with a kettle in a school compound — Watering a young tree
An official waters a newly planted seedling in the school compound.

An official digging a planting hole with a hoe while officials and residents watch — Breaking ground
An official digs the first hole for a commemorative planting as the community looks on.

Young delegates seated at a table behind hand-written banners on youth and environment — Youth caucus session
Young delegates seated behind hand-lettered banners on youth and environment, HIV/AIDS, education and employment.

Pupils and adults filling black polybags with soil and arranging seedlings at the MCRC tree nursery — Filling the nursery beds
Pupils visiting for a demonstration of seedling potting at the MCRC tree nursery. The site of this nursery is now under forest.

A pupil in red uniform speaking into a microphone before a large school assembly — A pupil speaks
Pupils addressing the assembled school and community with a microphone.

Stakeholders examining labelled indigenous tree seedlings on a display bench — Inspecting the seedlings
Stakeholders examining labelled indigenous seedlings prepared for distribution.

People standing behind an exhibition table of seed samples, bottles and produce — Exhibition table
An exhibition of seeds, propagation material and produce alongside project displays.

A guest planting a tree with a spade beside a hand-written commemorative marker — Commemorative planting
A guest firming a young tree beside a hand-written commemorative marker.

A woman planting a seedling on an open field while guests watch — Planting on the field
A community member setting a seedling into prepared ground as guests look on.

A guest watering a newly planted tree while colleagues steady him — Watering after planting
A guest watering a newly planted tree, steadied by colleagues.

An administration officer in uniform inspecting a young tree — Inspecting a young tree
An administration officer examining a young tree established at the site.

Swipe to browse the schools.

Legacy and future

A seed planted in schools continues to grow.

The Bungoma Primary Schools Environment Project reminds us that restoration starts with education, participation and patience. Its lessons continue to shape the Mary Munei Foundation’s work today.

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