Through the first phase of Rufford Small Grant in the western Aberdare landscape, this project has contributed to the restoration of degraded forest areas, strengthened local conservation capacity, and piloted forest-friendly livelihood options. Over 6.5 hectares of degraded land were rehabilitated, a community conservation group was established and trained, and more than 9,900 residents were reached through conservation awareness and behavioural change initiatives. In addition, poultry farming and tree nursery enterprises were introduced, directly benefiting over 112 households. A socio-economic survey conducted during this phase identified bushmeat poaching, fuelwood dependence, and weak coordination among conservation actors as key drivers of forest degradation.

Building on these achievements and findings, the proposed project seeks to deepen community-led conservation and address the root causes of forest pressure. It will strengthen the existing conservation group through advanced training in Forest Disturbance Assessment and support the establishment of a poultry enterprise to generate sustainable income for conservation activities. To directly reduce bushmeat poaching, the project will introduce a “Livestock Over Bushmeat” sheep farming programme targeting poachers identified through the survey. Forest pressure will be further reduced by promoting tree planting on private farms adjacent to the mountain and piloting energy-saving jikos to lower household fuelwood demand.

To enhance coordination and long-term impact, the project will establish a Western Aberdare Forest Conservation Working Group, bringing together community members, conservation organisations, and relevant institutions. Overall, the project aims to transform forest-dependent communities into active stewards of the Aberdare Mountains while improving livelihoods and safeguarding biodiversity.