Posted on :Monday , 2nd February 2026

Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Dr. Deborah Barasa has spearheaded a joint national and regional initiative to restore the Mount Elgon ecosystem, placing sustainable forest and wood conservation at the centre of the recovery. Speaking during a multi-agency forum on the Mount Elgon Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme (Mt. Elgon-ICLIP), she called for coordinated action among government institutions, county administrations, development partners, and local communities to ensure long-term protection and productive use of forest resources.

 

Mount Elgon, which spans approximately 4,000 square kilometres across Kenya and Uganda, is one of the country’s most important forested landscapes and water towers. The ecosystem supports extensive indigenous woodlands that regulate water flow, protect soils, and provide raw materials for construction, energy, and forest-based enterprises. According to the Ministry of Environment, Kenya’s portion of Mount Elgon contains protected forest areas covering more than 1,200 square kilometres, making it a strategic national asset for sustainable wood production, biodiversity conservation, and climate regulation.

CS Barasa noted that restoring Mount Elgon’s forests will significantly enhance wood-based livelihoods while safeguarding ecological services. Sustainable forest management will ensure a continuous supply of timber, fuelwood, and non-timber forest products, reducing pressure on fragile landscapes while creating employment opportunities. She highlighted that forests around Mount Elgon also strengthen agricultural productivity by stabilizing rainfall patterns and improving soil fertility, directly supporting food security for surrounding communities.

The government has committed to a 10-year restoration programme targeting over 103,000 hectares of degraded forest and adjacent land within the Mount Elgon landscape. The initiative aligns with Kenya’s 15 Billion Trees Programme, the National Climate Change Action Plan, and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). Restoration activities include large-scale tree planting, promotion of agroforestry systems, sustainable wood harvesting, and value addition to forest products, ensuring that conservation and economic development move hand in hand.

In addition to public-sector leadership, Barasa underscored the importance of partnerships with county governments, community forest associations, and the private sector to enhance wood conservation outcomes. She said investments in clean energy alternatives, eco-tourism, carbon markets, and forest-based enterprises will empower communities to benefit economically from well-managed forests. The initiative also promotes skills development in sustainable forestry, enabling local populations to manage wood resources responsibly for present and future generations.

To strengthen coordination and grassroots engagement, the government appointed Mining Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai as Patron of the Mount Elgon restoration programme, while Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi reaffirmed the ecosystem’s role in water security, wood production, and climate resilience. CS Barasa concluded that protecting Mount Elgon’s forests is not only an environmental priority but a strategic investment in Kenya’s economic future, stating that – well managed forests and sustainable wood resources will continue to support livelihoods, industry, and national development for decades to come.