Conservation and Sustainability
Our environment shapes life as we know it, influencing ecosystems, climate, and biodiversity. Here, we explore pressing environmental issues, conservation efforts, and sustainable solutions that impact Eastern Africa and beyond. Join us in understanding the delicate balance of nature and how we can protect it for future generations.
Kenya's beautiful natural areas—from its misty highlands to its sunlit coasts—are intimately linked to its forests. These ecosystems are more than scenic landscapes: they support biodiversity, regulate water and climate systems, and underpin major sectors of the national economy. However, a revealing document—the National Forest Resources Assessment Report 2024, released in February 2025—shows that ongoing… Continue reading The Billion-Dollar Loss: How Cutting Down Trees Hurts Kenya’s Economy
In the quiet power of trees lies an untapped engine of economic transformation. Eastern Africa’s landscapes—diverse, rich, and historically mismanaged—are increasingly becoming home to a burgeoning commercial forestry sector. Yet, this transformation isn’t just about planting trees and waiting for profits to sprout. It’s about smart investment, sound science, and long-term vision. A Region Rooted… Continue reading Commercial Forestry in Eastern Africa: A Sustainable Path to Growth
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, affecting ecosystems, societies, and economies worldwide. To truly comprehend the gravity of this crisis, it’s important to dive into the books that have shaped our understanding of the climate emergency. This collection highlights works that range from scientific investigations to political analyses, showcasing… Continue reading Best Books to Read About Climate Change: Essential Reads for Understanding the Crisis
APRIL African sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata), a small tree or shrub native to East Africa and parts of Asia, is treasured for its fragrant wood and essential oils. Known for its diverse medicinal, cultural, and commercial applications, this species has become a symbol of both natural wealth and ecological vulnerability. A Multipurpose Tree of Great Value… Continue reading African Sandalwood: A Fragrant Treasure on the Brink
East Africa continues to reveal incredible natural wonders. Deep in the misty Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania, scientists have found a towering new species of rainforest tree that may have stood for 3,000 years. This amazing discovery was made by botanist Andrea Bianchi, along with local plant experts Aloyce Mwakisoma and Ruben Mwakisoma. While exploring the… Continue reading Timeless Sentinels: A Newly Discovered Species of Ancient Trees in Tanzania
Water scarcity has long been a pressing issue in Uganda’s Isingiro District, particularly in the Nakivale and Oruchinga refugee settlements. With over 132,000 refugees in the region and a dwindling supply of clean water, the situation has been grim. However, the Kagera Water Project—a €73 million initiative funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD)—promises… Continue reading The Kagera Water Project: A Lifeline for Refugees and Host Communities
MARCH Senna spectabilis, also known as Cassia spectabilis or Spectacular Cassia, is a fast-growing, medium-sized tree admired for its brilliant yellow flowers. Originally from Central and South America, it has made its way across the tropics, including Africa and Asia, where it’s been introduced for its ornamental value and rapid growth (CABI, 2023). Origin and… Continue reading Senna Spectabilis: Beauty or Ecological Threat?
A quiet crisis is unfolding in South Africa’s Succulent Karoo. This region, spanning approximately 111,000 square kilometers from Namibia's Luderitz through South Africa's Richtersveld, Namaqualand, Hantam, Tanqua, Roggeveld, and into the Little Karoo, is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity. Home to the world's richest succulent flora, the Succulent Karoo boasts around 6,350 species of vascular… Continue reading The Silent Plunder: How South Africa’s Succulents Are Being Stolen to Extinction
Water hyacinth, with its lush green leaves and delicate purple flowers, might look harmless—beautiful, even. But beneath that deceptive façade lies one of the world’s most aggressive aquatic invaders. In Kenya, this plant has become an ecological menace, choking vital water bodies, suffocating aquatic life, and disrupting livelihoods. A Troubled Introduction Originally from South America,… Continue reading Water Hyacinth: Kenya’s Silent Green Invader
FEBRUARY Introduction Acacia senegal, also known as Senegalia senegal, is a small, thorny, deciduous tree native to semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, Oman, Pakistan, and parts of India. Commonly referred to as the gum arabic tree, it holds immense ecological, economic, and medicinal importance. Its most valuable product, gum arabic, is a key commodity in… Continue reading Acacia senegal: The Multipurpose Tree and Its Valuable Product – Gum Arabic