Executive summary:
Muguga Ecosystem Research Community Forest Association (MERCFA) is celebrating a decade plus since formation and registration in 2009 under society Act Cap 108, Registration certificate No 30850). The group is formed by community members from villages of Kerwa, Nderi, Kikuyu, Thigio, Karai-Ndeiya and Muguga that neighbor Muguga forest reserve.
MERCFA was formed after community members realized decline of goods and services (firewood, building materials herbal medicine, honey, fodder, services of clean environment, education, picnic and other cultural festivities held in this forest) they benefited from the forest over the last fifty years. This is highly attributed to increasing human population.
MERCFA collaborates with Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organizations (KALRO), County Government of Kiambu (CGoK), among other stakeholders.
Since inception, MERCFA has made various achievements notably development of the Participatory Forest management plans and agreements that guide conservation and management of Muguga forest. This is in pursuit of the Forest Conservation and Management Act 2016 (FCMA 2016) that allows community participation in management of forests.
MERCFA has been able to build capacity of community members through empowerment and training on policies guiding ecosystem conservation through the Participatory Forest Management (PFM) process. From the trainings members have been able to start activities that improve environment as well as generating income. Such are tree nurseries, Beekeeping, woodlot establishment and rehabilitation of degraded areas/ restoration of wetlands at which MERCFA is part of the team leading restoration process of the historical Ondiri swamp.
MERCFA has always been at the fore front in promoting environmental conservation measures of alternative energy sources like making charcoal briquettes, use of energy saving stoves (kuni mbili jiko) to reducing pressure in our forests. With support from Green Zones Development Support Project (GZDSP), we conducted a pilot project through provision of kuni mbili jikos to 60 households in 2013. An assessment conducted in 2016 proved that the jikos reduce by half the firewood used there before (Ref: International Forestry Review Newsletter -Ref:Vol.18(3), 2016)
MERCFA has been able to share information with other stakeholders through social media, life media interviews, newspapers and also use others stakeholders platforms like KEFRI Newsletter (quarterly circulations), Commonwealth Forestry Newsletter among others.
On partnership and networking, we have participated in various local, National, Regional and international forums notably Tokyo International Conference for African development TICAD VI side event on Sustainable Forest Management in Africa - 2016, International Renewable Energy in Nairobi 2018 among others.
MERCFA is optimitic that thorough collaborations and interactions with other stakeholders, we will achieve significant improvement on environment and sustainable development to the benefit of the current and future generations.
Simon Kamonde - Chair, MERCFA
Phone: +254 722 883 721
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.mugugacfa.org
