Belgium Embassy, UNESCO, and BGF join forces to protect Kenya's unique biodiversity

During a partnership signing ceremony hosted by the Belgium Embassy in Nairobi, UNESCO commended BGF, an agro-forestry company operating in Kenya and Uganda as a leading player in East Africa in the field of sustainable dryland afforestation. 

"Through UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet), the Green Initiative Challenge and UNESCO Green Academies, we hope to advance national, regional, and international policy development on biodiversity conservation, water resource management, and gender equality," notes UNESCO Regional Director, Alexandros Makarigakis.

On its part, the Belgium Ambassador to Kenya H.E Peter Maddens praised the partnership. “The embassy has been at the forefront championing climate change in Kenya and operating regions. We are partner connectors and the uniqueness of this project besides saving the Kaya is that it is the first time we together with UNESCO are partnering with a private company- BGF”, said H.E Maddens. 

The collaboration will see the two parties explore areas of research, specifically optimization of an agroforestry system based on the species Melia volkensii with regenerative farm practices, conservation of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), red list of threatened plant species, capacity building, and establishment of tree woodlots within schools thus contributing to President William Ruto’s ambitious groundbreaking tree planting initiative called "jaza miti," aimed at encouraging all Kenyan citizens to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.

“We have targeted a year to do all the necessary preparations, including raising the funds to kick start this project with an MOU in the very near future that will spell out the deliverables tied to each partner’, observes Jean-Paul Deprins, Managing Director, BGF.

BGF intends to increase resilience of the East African Coastal Region through research in agroforestry systems and capacity building for conservation of Kaya Kauma and surrounding areas with like-minded partners spanning, Pwani University, National Museums of Kenya, Ghent University, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) and KenGen Foundation.

“We will optimize an agroforestry system based on Melia Volkensii with regenerative farm practices, and tree planting practices to extend the Arabuko Sokoke forest ecosystem incorporating schools and local smallholders specifically, to empower communities along areas of climate action, biodiversity, natural heritage, water, disaster risk reduction and eco-friendly enterprises while also popularizing tree planting especially of local nutritious trees through advocacy, notes Mr. Jean-Paul.

The project will run for a duration of 5 years at an estimated budget of 2 million Euros. On completion of the same, in addition to tabling a proven inoculation method for M. volkensii, there will be an establishment of 4 agroforestry demonstration plots around the Kaya, a model agroforestry plot on Pwani University campus and incorporation of 200 schools in the Green Initiative Challenge.

Founded in 2024, BGF primary mission is poverty alleviation through extensive sustainable commercial tree planting, microfinance initiatives and educational endeavours. Additionally, BGF is the publisher of "Miti," the tree business magazine for Africa. 

BGF collaborates with numerous partners in the realms of afforestation and environmental preservation, encompassing the private sector, public entities, and non-profit/development organizations.

As a forestry implementation firm, it nurtures seedlings, oversees their growth, and preserves them on behalf of its clients. The company does not possess ownership of the trees; but is compensated upfront a predetermined fee for every tree it cultivates, oversees, and sustains until they reach maturity. 

It has ongoing projects in Kiambere with offices in Uganda and future expansion into Tanzania.