Forestry Workshop Highlights Benefits of GIC Wonder Tree

Melia Volkensii, an endogenous hardwood and the KenGen Foundation’s School Green Initiative Challenge flagship tree species, was the main focus during a forestry stakeholders’ workshop held at the University of Nairobi, Kabete Campus held on 30^th August.

The workshop convened to discuss the challenges, benefits and way forward of cultivating Melia volkensii, was graced by the Ambassador of Belgium to Kenya His Excellency Mr. Nicolas Nihon, the Chief Executive Officer of Better Globe Forestry Mr. Jan Vandenabeele, the KenGen Foundation’s Elishibah Msengeti and Ernest Nyamasyo, and representatives from the University of Ghent (Belgium), University of Nairobi, Kenya Forestry Research Institute, International Center for Research in Agroforestry/ World Agroforestry Centre, and Kenya Forest Service among others.

Mukau, including Muveshi (S. Siamea) and Terminalia brownie, are the choice trees for the Schools Green Initiative Challenge, a unique school based afforestation project implemented by KenGen Foundation in partnership with Better Globe Forestry. The project’s main objective is the greening of over 460 acres in the semi-arid counties of Embu, Kitui and Machakos as a way of mitigating climate change and providing wood fuel and alternative income opportunities for the local communities.

Melia Volkensii (Mukau) is a tree species that is indigenous to East Africa.  In Kenya, the species grows naturally in Mbeere, Tharaka, Kitui, Mutomo, Mwingi, Makueni and Taita Taveta counties. The tree can grow to heights of up to 15m high and a diameter of 50cm over a period of 20 years.

Mukau is drought resistant and can grow with an annual average rainfall of 400-1000mm. As a hardwood, it produces good quality timber, which makes it quite marketable and is also useful as fodder, bee keeping. Leaf and fruit extract are used as insect repellent, and bio-pesticide manufacturing, while pruned branches provide farmers with good firewood.

So far over 250,000 tree seedlings have been grown through the GIC, with 40,000 more to be distributed to the new schools next year.