FAO’s Young Forest Champions take a deep dive into Forest Monitoring
27/06/2025
Youth play a pivotal role in advancing Kenya’s ambitious national forest targets such as the national restoration target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
To support this, the Young Forest Champions initiative – launched under the AIM4Forests programme – is investing in youth-led forest restoration by equipping young leaders with the skills and solutions they need to drive change in their communities. From 10–12 June 2025, ten selected champions gathered in Jomvu, Mombasa for training on forest monitoring, mentorship, and peer learning, thanks to a collaboration between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Kenya Forest Service, Ceriops Environmental Organization, and the World Food Forum Kenya Chapter.
Experience sharing and mentorship
A key highlight of the workshop was the opportunity for young forest champions to present their project ideas. These included innovative ideas in forest fire detection, control of invasive species, forest data monitoring, nursery establishment, and nature-based solutions like integrating beekeeping with reforestation.
Each presentation reflected the champions’ passion, creativity, and hands-on experience, sparking meaningful dialogue during a plenary session where peers and experts offered valuable feedback to strengthen their initiatives.
“It was more than just a mentorship session, it was a platform filled with powerful insights from seasoned professionals in forest monitoring and conservation work, as well as rich peer-to-peer learning among nine fellow champions from diverse backgrounds across Kenya,” Duncan Katam, Young Forest Champion from Nandi County, stressed.
Youth pathways for forestry
The workshop featured a diverse lineup of speakers who shared knowledge and personal experiences to inspire the young forest champions. Ann Mbutura from FAO Kenya covered financial literacy and resource mobilization, Prof. Mwangi Kinyanjui shared insights on forest monitoring, and Joseph Othieno from FAO Kenya led a session on communication and forest advocacy. Peter Sirayo from the Kenya Forest Service shared his career journey, offering inspiration on how persistence and passion can lead to leadership roles in forestry.
Discussions also explored the vital role of youth in forest restoration, highlighting real-life journeys that illustrated how youth and seasoned professionals are shaping the future of forestry in Kenya. Dorah Momanyi from CIFOR-ICRAF, also representing the World Food Forum, shared her journey from food science to forestry, highlighting the link between indigenous fruit trees, nutrition, and sustainability. Derrick Muyodi, founder of Ceriops Environmental Organization, presented their work in mangrove restoration, and Wahome Benard, the Chief Conservator of Forests Mombasa from the Kenya Forest Service encouraged youth to embrace emerging technologies in forest monitoring.
Field tour to a mangrove restoration site
The final day of the workshop involved a field tour at Tudor Creek, where participants planted 500 mangrove seedlings alongside community members from Bidii Creek Conservancy. Navigating mud, water, and dense vegetation, they gained firsthand insight into the complexities of restoring coastal ecosystems, especially in the fragile intertidal zone.
“It was inspiring to see collaboration across government agencies, NGOs, and local communities, with a strong emphasis on empowering communities not only through ecological efforts but also sustainable livelihoods,” Brenda Kajuju, a Young Forest Champion from Nairobi County reflected.
“We had the incredible privilege of hosting the FAO's Young Forest Champions,” said Levis Sirikwa, Co-Founder of Ceriops Environmental Research Organization. “Meeting these passionate, innovative young minds gave us renewed energy and fresh perspectives”.
Jomvu community is transitioning from charcoal production to non-timber forest products like mangrove honey, now incorporated into shampoos, soaps, and shower gels by local women’s groups. Such income generating activities support both conservation and local livelihoods, but challenges remain—particularly sedimentation and livestock pressure in restored areas.
“As the champions return to their communities, they carry not only new skills and connections, but a shared commitment to forest restoration—rooted in local action, sustained by collaboration, and driven by hope. Ongoing mentorship and training will help them turn this commitment into sustainable forest practices,” said Eva Ntara, workshop facilitator and coordinator of the initiative.
About AIM4Forest's Young Forest Champions
The Young Forest Champions initiative is part of AIM4Forests – a five-year programme led by FAO with the support from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Initiative began in Kenya in 2024, where ten passionate young female champions have already made significant strides.
Building on Kenya success, this year, the call for applications expanded to other four countries: Ghana, Peru, Uganda and Zambia, attracting 1,521 applications globally, with 519 from Kenya alone. After a thorough selection process, 10 Kenyan young champions under 30 years were selected, who are actively working with their local communities to drive forest restoration.
Link to “FAO announces 50 Young Forest Champions to drive forest conservation and restoration on the ground” web story
Embed the Champions video: “The Young Forest Champions Initiative 2025: meet 5 Champions”
For more information visit the AIM4Forests | Activities | Youth engagement | Young Forest Champions website
Mangrove restoration sites uploaded by Ceriops Environmental Organization on the Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring platform: Initiative Details - FERM Registry
For more information contact
Joseph Othieno
FAO Kenya Communication Specialist
Or
VertizLarrea, Vanessa
Knowledge Management and Outreach Consultant