In January 2012, Rhino Ark facilitated a 6-day community forestry training course in the Aberdares. The training team, comprised officers from Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI), Nyeri, was led by Adam Mwangi, Rhino Ark’s Bongo Programme Coordinator. The team trained six (6) Aberdare fence line community groups namely: Mugagu (Othaya), Bondeni, Kiamboga, Soko Huru, Geta/Bush and KEKIKA.

A day was devoted to each group and the training ran from 9 am to 3 pm. Community members were trained on: Seed collection, processing/treatment and storage and testing for seed viability before sowing; Tree Nursery Management; and Vegetative propagation of Bamboo using culms/stems. Bamboo is fast gaining popularity owing to its ability to tolerate repeated harvesting, its short growing cycle and ability to restore degraded sites, and it will greatly benefit communities and the ecosystem if groups adopt bamboo cultivation within the forest and on their farms.

After the training Rhino Ark’s Adam Mwangi observed that, “… the training was very interactive, participatory and practical.”

The community members trained found the sessions to be very helpful and expressed gratitude to the Rhino Ark for the support.