The Kipsaina Crane and Wetland Conservation Group (KCWCG) has launched the Sitatunga River Corridor Programme, a flagship initiative restoring riverbank forests and wetlands in Trans Nzoia and West Pokot. These rivers have been degraded by cultivation along almost their entire length.
Restoring the Rivers Feeding Saiwa Swamp
In 2025, KCWCG began the first 8 km of reforestation along the Kipsaina and Kapenguria Rivers, which feed into Saiwa Swamp National Park, the world’s smallest national park and home to the endangered sitatunga antelope. These sections will be completed by the end of September 2025. The tree planting (350,000 has been funded by our ongoing partners Ecosia, and the International Crane Foundation (ICF) will fund a further 3km of planting commencing at the start of the next rainy season in April. The programme uses native wetland species, with particular emphasis on the African Waterberry (Syzygium cordatum), a keystone species for riverbank stability and biodiversity. Other indigenous trees are included to restore ecological function, prevent erosion, and regulate water flow. Planting is planned in such a way that low-level indigenous wetland vegetation, crucial as wildlife habitat, can also be
Scaling Up for Climate and Community
The long-term goal is to extend reforestation along the entire 34 km length of both rivers back to their sources, and to include smaller tributaries. The scheme is designed to be scalable, with potential expansion to the other rivers in the upper reaches of the Nzoia River and then further downstream, creating a connected mosaic of restored wetland ecosystems across Western Kenya.
KCWCG planting team showing previously KCWCG reforested section on the left and new planting area in the agricultural encroachment on the right
KCWCG Tree Nursery
KCWCG Grafted hass avocado nursery
Bees for Conservation
As part of our wetland restoration efforts, we are supporting local farmers by providing beehives. Beekeeping not only offers a sustainable source of livelihood through honey production and related products but also plays a crucial role in environmental conservation. Bees enhance pollination, which improves crop yield and support the growth of indigenous trees vegetation within restored wetlands. This initiative strengthen both community resilience and ecosystem health, creating a balance between conservation and livelihood improvement.
Biodiversity Benefits
The restored corridors will safeguard key species:
- Sitatunga antelope – allowing safe movement between habitats for genetic diversity.
- Grey crowned crane – enabling undisturbed nesting and wetland feeding.
- De Brazza monkey – providing continuous riverine forest for breeding and dispersal.
Collaboration with NEMA, WRA, and other government partners ensures alignment with conservation regulations, while advocacy has persuaded local road builders to incorporate wildlife underpasses at river crossings – a first for the region.
Farmers at the Heart of the Programme
Some of the participating farmers at a training meeting August 2025
Over 200 farmers have already signed up, organised into 12 cooperative units. Farmers are central to the corridor’s success:
- They allow the reforesting of their riparian strips with indigenous trees.
- They sign up to a chemical reduction programme aiming towards a totally organic approach.
- They benefit from incentives, initially through the distribution of super Napier grass and grafted Hass avocado trees, offering long-term income.
- Additional rewards are given for voluntary tree planting beyond project targets and for safeguarding wildlife habitats including the protection of crane nesting grounds from disturbance
Farmers collecting the “super Napier” grass distributed
as part of the project to provide alternative dry season fodder
for livestock – reducing grazing pressure on the wetlands
Link with KipAgro Social Enterprise
Economic incentives are anchored by the new KipAgro Social Enterprise CLG, a not-for-profit company handling:
- Value addition (processing of avocado, honey, and other sustainable products).
- Collective marketing and sales to ensure fair prices for farmers.
Products will be marketed using the trading name Nzoia Forest Farms.
Draft Publicity Poster
Wider Community Benefits
All surplus funds generated from KipAgro will be reinvested via KCWCG into community development priorities chosen by local people – from school infrastructure to WASH initiatives – ensuring that benefits extend beyond landowners to the wider community.
ISSB 80,000 litre Water tank constructed to irrigate the project avocado nursery in Kipsaina
Interlocking stabilised soil block technology (ISSB) will be integrated into all infrastructure created for the project. ISSB technology removes a very large percentage of carbon dioxide from the building supply chain by removing the wood burning involved in locally produced brick
KCWCG Community Centre and guest house (on right) built in Kipsaina tree nursery using ISSB