Youth in Kenya protect forests and preserve community assets

By Stephanie McCauley
January 19, 2016

A group of young people in Kenya, many of whom were previously involved in crime and drug sales, have created the Muiru Youth Reform Group, helping to save trees from illegal logging. Using a special ringtone or text message, they notify authorities whenever they notice suspicious logging activities. In return, they are allowed to run a tree nursery and sell seedlings to help with reforestation, netting up to $200 per day for the group. Their services help to preserve forests, in line with Kenya’s ban on cutting down trees without a permit. Their actions also protect citizens who were often being deceived by large timber corporations into giving away their trees for timber without receiving compensation.

Climate Protection: Preserves trees Resilience: Reduces clear cutting and runoff Jobs & Assets: Provides respectable jobs and preserves community assets for previously marginalized groups Health, Well-Being, & Safety: Allows youth an outlet other than crime Connection: Encourages a sense of community togetherness as the group works together to protect community assets

This post is part of a series on examples of ​multisolving​, or climate-smart policies that simultaneously work to mitigate climate change while providing co-benefits such as the ones described above. The multiple benefits analysis was done using the ​FLOWER framework​.