# KIANGURE SPRINGS ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVE (KSEI) AWARDED  BY KENYA FOREST SERVICE (KFS) FOR TREE GROWING AND FORESTCONSERVATION  
> https://tree-nation.com/projects/save-the-aberdare-forest/article/2427-kiangure-springs-environment-initiative-ksei-awarded-by

- **Author**: Joram Mathenge
- **Published**: 2017-06-25T12:53:57.000000Z

Kiangure Springs Environment Initiative was on 23rd June 2017  Awarded by Kenya Forest Service for being the 2ND BEST (SILVER) COMMUNITY GROUP IN TREE  GROWING AND FOREST CONSERVATION IN HIGH RAINFALL AREAS  OF  KENYAThe award ceremony was presided by the Kenyan First Lady H.E Margaret Kenyatta at KFS Headquarters in Karura Forest.Since its inception in 2007 ,KSEI has planted close to 1 million trees with over 80% survival rate in the Aberdare forest Ecosystem.We have also enhanced conservation through community level awareness creation through Mural art and theatre.http://www.paintinganewworld.com/galleries/int-murals-index.htm https://www.apeuk.org/youth-aberdare-art-project/projectKSEI has so far distributed over 6000 improvedcookstove to poor rural households as Payment for ecosystem services(PES) to rural farmers for their conservation efforts both at farm level and local forests and water catchment areas. 200 Farmers  have also been trained in Stove installation. Each stove has the  capacity to sink 2 tonnes of CO2 per year.Over 80% of rural households in Kenya heavily  rely on wood for fuel and about 76% use traditional open fire cooking method which consumes alot of wood thus exerting alot of pressure on our local forests while eposing the hoseholds to indoor house pollution.Improved cookstoves will reduce wood dependency by 50% and eliminate pollution.KSEI is also distributing solar lanterns to help households switch to clean and safe  lighting while cutting down emissions.The households are saving money by adopting solar which they are re-investing in other development projects to boost family income.http://www.trust.org/item/20150429114132-tnby1The organisation has also helped over 200 rural households adopt biogas technology where animal and kitchen waste is being used to generate biogas  for cooking,lighting and farm mechanization.Farmers have trained on Agroforestry techniques to enhance resillience .We are growing fruit trees in farmlands to boost FoodSecurity and households income.In 2017 KSEI has  so far planted 30,000 trees in partnership with the local community to save the Aberdare forest.Kenya Forest  Service has recognised our efforts to save the Aberdare Forest and given us this great Award.We look foward to more partnership so as to sustain this great Responsibility ahead of us.