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PROJECT TITLE (NAME):
EVERGREEN ECOSYSTEM FOR A CONDUCIVE
ENVIRONMENT
PROJECT COORDINATOR (MANAGER): TIMOTHY MUTHANGA MUGI. Volunteer Graduate Assistant (VGA) WestPokot County G-UNITED PROGRAME A subsidiary of Ministry of Education Kenya
ID NO
DATE: INITIATED
: 29808471
: 5TH May 2017
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Acknowledgement I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people for their selfless and unlimited support they had continued to show all through the implementation of this project. Their support ranging from financial support, motivation, physical support and other valuable initiatives that were intended to see project success. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Saya Primary School teachers (staffs) and students. Christopher Muchiri –WestPokot County (NEMA) Director Mr Gabriel Kariuki- E.C (K.F.S ) WestPokot County Mr knyenze – A.E.C (K.F.S) WestPokot County Saya Primary School (B.O.M) The community
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Abstract
Evergreen ecosystem is a project intended to address issues relating environment in WestPokot County as well as whole country. It mainly focuses on the importance of populating the region with a better tree species that would impact to an effective conducive environment for a habitable habitat for all living things in the ecosystem, unlike the indigenous bush and thorny species. Considering that different species of trees are the beauty of the ecosystem, the project emphasis on afforestation of the region in order to mitigate gallery type of soil erosion which leaves place in habitable. Addressing the issue of environment has a greater bearing and impact in both economic and social development of the people, consequently realizing the country’s strategic plan. Nevertheless, the project is also steered in order to create and enhance culture among the people for proper management of the ecosystem by taking necessary cautions and measures to address against environment destruction.
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TABLE OF CONTENT Pages Cover page (title)..………………………………………………………………………….1 Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………………… 2 Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………..3 Table of content……………………………………………………………………………..4 Glossary…………………………………………………………………………………..…5 1.0 Background……………………………………………………………………………….6 1.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………..……6 1.2 Slogan of the project……………………………………………………….…...6 1.3 Objectives (aims)……………………………………………….………….……7 1.4 Purpose of the project……………………………………….…………….…….7 1.5 Project relationship to the Kenyan’s vision 2030…………………….... ………8 2.0 Project pillars...............................................................................................................…...9 2.1Afforestation……………………………………………………………................9 2.2 Agroforestry……………………………………………………………………...9 2.3 Tree nursery………………………………………………………………………9 2.4 Environmental club…………………………...………………………………….9 3.0 Project initiative and geographical coverage……………………………………….....10 4.0 Community involvement………………………………………………………………10 4.1 Culture.…………………………… …………………………………….........11 4.1.1 Ways of developing culture………………………………………….........11 4.1.1.1 Education…………………………………………………………..11 4.1.1.2 Physical support……………………………………………….......11 5.0 Purpose of tree nursery……………………………………………….………………..11 6.0 Project projection……………...……………………………..…………………...….…12 7.0 Management and maintenance mechanisms………...………………..….…………12 7.1 Nursery……..………………..…….………………...………………….……12 7.2 Education and support…………………………………………………….….12 7.3 Establishment of environment club……………………………………….….13 8.0 Achievements....................................................................................................................13 8.1 1st phase…………………………………………………………….………..…..13 8.2 2nd phase……………………………………………………………….………...14 8.3 aggregate achievement……….………………………………………...………...14 9.0 Project deliverables……………………………..………………………………………15 10.0 Challenges.……………………….………………...…………………………………..16 11.0 Recommendations……………………………………………………………..……….17 12.0Conclusion…………..………………………………………………………………......18
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Glossary
Nema…………………………………………National Environment Management Authority. Ec……………………………………………..Environment Coordinator. Aec……………………………………………Assistant Environment Coordinator. Kfs…………………………………………….Kenya Forest Service. Vga……………………………………………Volunteer Graduate Assistant. Bom………………………………………........Board of Management.
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1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 Introduction. Ecosystem refers to all living, non-living and bio-diversity in a certain surrounding. Evergreen ecosystem is a project initiated in the WestPokot County under G-United program which is a subsidiary of the ministry of the education Kenya. The project aim at addressing the need for a habitable environment for all living organisms while upholding the beauty of the environment. Moreover, from the school of thought and project’s slogan there is a clear indication that there is a complete coexistence or inter-dependence between the living things. Therefore issue of a conducive environment need more attention. Furthermore, the project tries to provide immediate measures, mechanisms and procedures required to protect and sustain the environment through proper conservancy measures such as, tree nursery, afforesting, agroforestry and sensitizing the community on best measures to mitigate the adverse climate change.
1.2 Slogan. ďƒ˜ Trees for the people and people for the trees. ďƒ˜ Safe environment better living standards.
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1.3 Aim.
Re-creating the ecosystem for the better lives. To emphasis on proper management of ecosystem to curb environmental degradation.
1.4 Reasons behind planting trees.
Inadequate foods for both people and animals. Enormous soil erosion across the county. Wind breaking factor. Long term sustaining environment for all animals. For long term solution to national economic development.
1.5 THE RELEVANCE OF THE PROJECT IN RELATION TO KENYA VISION 2030 FLAGSHIP Vision 2030 is the Kenyan’s blue print for economic development of the country for the twenty years. Which it is a strategic plan implemented by the government of Kenya for the Evergreen ecosystem
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purpose of achieving both economic and social developments across the country where by every plan is measured using the guidelines stipulated in the plan. Kenya’s economy is mainly driven by the natural resources endowed in the country which are very limited in their supply. They are also unevenly distributed across the country hence high likelihood of being misused and squandered easily. Kenyan people depend heavily on the natural resources that the country is endowed with including water, plants, animals and soil. Due to increasing population of people the natural resources becomes overexploited resulting to depletion of the environment resources. Over years the government as the main stakeholder in environment has been enacting laws, measures and procedures to help sustain and use environment while simultaneously protecting it from deforestation, poor soil management and pollution. Achieving Kenya’s national strategic plan we must learn the importance of togetherness in order to work closely as a team by joining hands to rescue and maintain our surrounding .Therefore dynamic approach and mechanisms are needed to address the importance of proper management of the environment
2.0 Project pillars. 1) 2) 3) 4)
Afforesting. Agro forestry. Tree nursery. Environmental club (pg13).
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2.1 Afforesting. Planting and rehabilitating the school environment through tree planting as much as possible instead of shrubs and thorny bushes.
2.2 Agro forestry Encouraging agro forestry within the community lands purposely to improve and promote a conducive environment in the region
2.3 Tree nursery. For the effectiveness of the project, nursery was fundamental in providing a foundation to the project by ensuring there are ready trees for planting.
3.0 Project Initiative and geographical coverage.
The project has been embraced enormously by the community in both regions, so it has taken the right path and I hope in future it would become a culture to be emulated by other people and spread for a huge geographical area. Evergreen Ecosystem covers both South and Central Pokot in WestPokot County.
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4.0 Community involvements. Tremendous achievements are quite possible in a scenario where by all stakeholders are taken in to consideration. This is because community contribute much to the success of any project around their geographical area hence need to make them feel to be part of the grate project by involving them in each step. Have decided to provide physical and mental support such as providing the necessary education regarding clean and green environment, prepare and manage those seedling as well as watering and mulching consequently inculcating the importance of well-maintained environment and more importantly developing the a culture and way of living to that community.
4.1
Culture
Culture refers to the ways of living of the people .Culture is art of doing things and having a notion of what is right and wrong relating to a certain native(people) in the area. There are many ways of developing a culture for proper maintenance of the environment to a community with no such idea or have limited know how concerning the environment conservations. Ethic are codes of conduct which stipulates how people should carry themselves (act).or relate with the environment in this case.
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Culture translate to ethics which are guides for human being in order to draw their judgement of their actions .Therefore people will define cutting or breaking trees as a violation of their core values (ethics). 4.1.1 Methods of developing culture; 4.1.1.1 Education Giving the community knowledge of maintaining environment will impact immensely to the success of the country’s vision and hence economic growth. 4.1.1.2 Physical support It is important to provide general demonstration and exhibitions to the community the manner in which they are supposed to do practically in their farms like digging holes and shedding. Physical support may also involve helping them with resources that are required to drive them through conservation of soil and planting trees.
5.0 Purpose of tree Nursery. 1. Project continuity. 2. Providing free tree seedlings for planting to the community. 3. Lack of tree nursery in the region.
6.0 Projection Aimed planting over 600 manageable trees and plus in afforesting the school for a period of 5 months. In addition we are targeting to plant approximately 300 plus trees in agro foresting.
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7.0 Project Management and maintenance mechanisms.
7.1 Nursery Decided to set up a tree nursery that could accommodate an estimate of 1000 plus seedlings. The nursery will help greatly in afforesting the region successfully and with ease for a quite a long period. This is possible by supplying free seedlings to the community. 7.2 Education and support Instilling young people with the necessary skills relating to the effective way of conserving the environment through seminars and training.
7.3 Establishment of environment club. Club is an association of people with a common agenda. Pooling resources together such as diverse idea form the members and effort as well as other resources required during implementation of the project. Organizing young people in to a club promotes the sense of togetherness as well as achievement of a certain task with ease. Having such a club in the school will be able to bring about the motive as well as positive moral towards the clean surrounding. 8.0 Achievements. 8.1 1st term (phase) May – August.  
Culture development for conservation of the environment in the community. Managed procure 200 planting papers from school head teacher and set up 2nd tree
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nursery with approximately capacity of 200 seedlings. Able to come-up with an effective decision, measures and resolutions for maintaining
project during the holiday with the help of school management(B.O.M) Managed to plant over 159 trees in afforesting the school and 20 trees in agro-forestry
in the month of May and June. Tree nursery which have already germination and shooting. Meeting with school managements and spreading the good news of G-United roles
and aims across the nation. Educated the community on the importance of planting trees.
8.2
2nd term (phase) September- October.
I Received 300 trees for planting from the Kenya Forest Service in WestPokot County with the help of county director of National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA). II Distributed 120 trees to help enhancing the agroforestry to the lager community including some few teachers who were willing to plant trees in their homes. III Planted a total of 290 trees in the school in afforesting the Saya Primary School in the month of September.
8.3 Aggregate Approximately 589 trees have been planted for a period of 5 months. This was possible because tree nursery was able to supply a quite a number of trees that were ready for planting during the month of September, so I was able to make a
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recommendable job or rather recording an higher score on the project success. Most factors attributed to this great job is continuous favorable climate from month of August to October 2017. In addition, cooperations from all stakeholders.
9.0 Project deliverables Increasing trees population in the region will aid in improving and making a conducive environment for all animals since trees are known to attract rainfall and subsequently there would be enough foods. This will translate into high yield from the farms which will enable in mitigation poverty level as well as drought hence alleviating hunger in the country. Moreover, managing soil erosion in the county contribute much to the community well-being this is mainly because heavy rains carry humus from the farms hence making soil unproductive, due to reduced soil fertility. Also tree are known as air purifiers this is through the normal exchange of the main two gases Oxygen and Carbon dioxide. Trees are well known of contributing to the beautiful of the surrounding in which many living organisms would seek as their homes. Moreover plants promote or enhance the soil fertility through the decaying of the leaves and other parts of the
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trees through the process of decomposition.
10.0
Challenges.
Limited time for conceiving well founded projects. High demand for trees from the lager community where by 300 trees were insufficient. Ignorance by the community who cut trees carelessly. Massive tree destruction by the cattle and sheeps as the move around looking for a green pasture. Dry climate which calls for regular and long term watering of trees. Lack of sufficient funds for finance the project. Government policies where the first phase of the project was affected by the Turkwel electricity transmission cables which requires for 40ft wide with no nearby trees
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11.0
Recommendations
There is the need to address the issue of period, duration or time, mainly because a project that is intended to have an immense impact to a big region need more time in order to develop and gather all requisite skills and information and then do a thorough analysis of the place, for the goodness of the project success. Additionally being in a different place one need that time to get acquainted with the native community in order for them to be familiar with you and accept what you have for them. A bond or trusted relationship with that community needs be solidified for the well-being of every project. Probably this is a good time to stress a bit the need for financial support because no matter how simple, easy and obvious a project may look there is always the need for adequate fund which is the key factor to thrive the CE.P. At least try to advocate for a contingent budget (supplementary budget) which could help those vgas who perhaps in need for support.
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12.0 Conclusion. Personally I count this as a major improvement in the region as well as accomplishing part of my dream and goals. This is a significant activity that has seen community being transformed into a community that cares, protects and conserves environment. It is a legacy that, let us leave a place better than we found it.Commissioned to improve and make life much better.
Compiled by. TIMOTHY MUTHANGA MUGI
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