Commons:Wiki Loves Africa 2017/photo essay/Rachel the tireless tree planter

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Rachel the tireless tree planter by User:Caroletravis

The community was also facing poverty and starvation. No need to panic. Rachel passionately begun to educate the community on environmental conservation and its implication on livelihoods and posterity. She is a tree planting fanatic and has planted over 1,000,000 trees on her farm in the last 10 years and reclaimed a 5 acres wetland.

  • Where did the butterflies go she asks? It all started with Rachel Nyakeri age 72 wondering what the future holds for her grand children with the rapid degradation of the Cherangany Hills ecosystem. Deforestation, wetland drying and soil erosion have diminished the areas biodiversity, including the beautiful butterflies. It was time to stop land and forest degradation by local communities. By fostering Non Timber Forest Products enterprises, she helps generate income as an incentive for conservation to reclaim the areas lost biodiversity.
    Where did the butterflies go she asks? It all started with Rachel Nyakeri age 72 wondering what the future holds for her grand children with the rapid degradation of the Cherangany Hills ecosystem. Deforestation, wetland drying and soil erosion have diminished the areas biodiversity, including the beautiful butterflies. It was time to stop land and forest degradation by local communities. By fostering Non Timber Forest Products enterprises, she helps generate income as an incentive for conservation to reclaim the areas lost biodiversity.
  • The Moringa tree planting pilot she carried out in 2017 was particularly welcome, as it is fast growing and the trees leaves and pods are highly nutritious when consumed. Conservation with a food - how genius! For this, she and her daughter Carole formed a Self Help Group comprising of rural slum women and persons living with albinism that she gave free seedlings. The plan is to reduce malnutrition in the homesteads and sell surplus produce together.
    The Moringa tree planting pilot she carried out in 2017 was particularly welcome, as it is fast growing and the trees leaves and pods are highly nutritious when consumed. Conservation with a food - how genius! For this, she and her daughter Carole formed a Self Help Group comprising of rural slum women and persons living with albinism that she gave free seedlings. The plan is to reduce malnutrition in the homesteads and sell surplus produce together.
  • Rachel has created fish ponds from her wetland and trains rural women and persons living with albinism how to diversify their income and food options while conserving the environment. She is hands on in her work and is many times considered stronger than most of the men including youth - working for her. I guess it’s her passion - that defies age.
    Rachel has created fish ponds from her wetland and trains rural women and persons living with albinism how to diversify their income and food options while conserving the environment. She is hands on in her work and is many times considered stronger than most of the men including youth - working for her. I guess it’s her passion - that defies age.
  • Rachel inspecting her fish ponds before their use as a demonstration site by Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries.
    Rachel inspecting her fish ponds before their use as a demonstration site by Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries.
  • Rural women at Rachel’s demonstration indoor gold fish farming site. With limited land, women have learnt how to innovatively farm and improve their livelihoods.
    Rural women at Rachel’s demonstration indoor gold fish farming site. With limited land, women have learnt how to innovatively farm and improve their livelihoods.
  • Wetland conservation at Rachel’s farm has enabled food security through tilapia fish farming within the community.This begun in 2016 as a Kenya government stimulus programme for youth.
    Wetland conservation at Rachel’s farm has enabled food security through tilapia fish farming within the community.This begun in 2016 as a Kenya government stimulus programme for youth.
  • Rachel facilitates training on bee keeping to curb deforestation especially by women who are in charge of fetching fire wood for domestic fuel. She allows the use of her 25 acres forest by women to mount their hives as most lack ideal land.It is a minimal labor high return enterprise.
    Rachel facilitates training on bee keeping to curb deforestation especially by women who are in charge of fetching fire wood for domestic fuel. She allows the use of her 25 acres forest by women to mount their hives as most lack ideal land.It is a minimal labor high return enterprise.
  • Rachel has a planned 5 acres woodlot of exotic trees which she usually harvests and from which she offers these women free firewood to reduce uncontrolled forest logging. She has created bench terraces to reduce soil erosion.
    Rachel has a planned 5 acres woodlot of exotic trees which she usually harvests and from which she offers these women free firewood to reduce uncontrolled forest logging. She has created bench terraces to reduce soil erosion.
  • Firewood recipients.
    Firewood recipients.
  • Firewood recipients after an environmental conservation training by Rachel.
    Firewood recipients after an environmental conservation training by Rachel.
  • Some women opt for firewood as part farm labor payment. It is an essential in most rural homes.
    Some women opt for firewood as part farm labor payment. It is an essential in most rural homes.
  • Firewood recipients come with their daughters who inevitably carry on the mothers role within homes.
    Firewood recipients come with their daughters who inevitably carry on the mothers role within homes.
  • Firewood recipients come with their daughters who inevitably carry on the mothers role within homes.
    Firewood recipients come with their daughters who inevitably carry on the mothers role within homes.
  • NETFUND Green Innovations Award recognized and granted Rachel as a passionate environmentalist. They regularly visit to monitor her ongoing activities as the government body mandated to empower Kenyans to sustainably manage the environment through promotion and support of green growth.
    NETFUND Green Innovations Award recognized and granted Rachel as a passionate environmentalist. They regularly visit to monitor her ongoing activities as the government body mandated to empower Kenyans to sustainably manage the environment through promotion and support of green growth.
  • NETFUND Green Innovation awards CEO and trustees monitoring Rachel's activities.
    NETFUND Green Innovation awards CEO and trustees monitoring Rachel's activities.
  • Rachel calls upon state regulatory bodies to guide on the expansion and preservation of her ecosystem. Here Kenya Wildlife Society representatives identified an invasive species in her swamp, the noxious elephant grass that threatens biodiversity. She removed it and used it as a healthy livestock feed.
    Rachel calls upon state regulatory bodies to guide on the expansion and preservation of her ecosystem. Here Kenya Wildlife Society representatives identified an invasive species in her swamp, the noxious elephant grass that threatens biodiversity. She removed it and used it as a healthy livestock feed.
  • Rachel calls upon state regulatory bodies to guide on the expansion and preservation of her ecosystem. Here Kenya Wildlife Society representatives identified an invasive species in her swamp, the noxious elephant grass that threatens biodiversity. She removed it and used it as a healthy livestock feed.
    Rachel calls upon state regulatory bodies to guide on the expansion and preservation of her ecosystem. Here Kenya Wildlife Society representatives identified an invasive species in her swamp, the noxious elephant grass that threatens biodiversity. She removed it and used it as a healthy livestock feed.
  • Rachel has preserved and grown indigenous trees for biodiversity and climate control for over 10 years.
    Rachel has preserved and grown indigenous trees for biodiversity and climate control for over 10 years.
  • NETFUND awarded Rachel as a passionate environment conservationist.
    NETFUND awarded Rachel as a passionate environment conservationist.
  • Total Eco Challenge recognized Rachel as a hero tree planter.
    Total Eco Challenge recognized Rachel as a hero tree planter.
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