On June 30th, a project mid-term review event was organized in the Bunyala area of the Nzoia River Basin, Kenya, under the “Ecosystem Restoration for Enhancing Livelihoods and Addressing Climate Change: China-Kenya Cooperation on Bamboo Technology Transfer” project. The event gathered key project stakeholders to review progress, share experiences, and discuss lessons learned toward achieving the project targets. The China Global Television Network (CGTN) featured the project’s successes and impacts in its news coverage.
In Kenya’s worst flood-impacted region, the lower reach of the Nzoia River Basin, the project intervened through bamboo agroforestry to enhance flood regulation, stabilize riverbanks, and support local livelihoods. With a 3km multi-species plantation of bamboo, along with vetiver grass, Sesbania Sesbans, and other crops, the project is transforming abandoned riparian land into resilient ecosystems while providing a strong foundation for food supply, industrial development, and local livelihoods. With additional demo bamboo house built, community-level nursery established, and weaving technology shared, communities are empowered to embrace restoration efforts for building a climate-resilient future. The project also enhances South-South cooperation between China and Kenya through knowledge and technology transfer, and capacity building for over 450 local members.
Multi-species plantation of bamboo and others at the project site
This project is funded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences through its international cooperation platform, the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center (SAJOREC). The Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the United Nations Environment Programme - International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP) are leading the project implementation, which involves collaboration with other institutions and builds upon existing efforts.