Bamboo for Crafts and Technology

Conserving Taita Hills Forests through bamboo handicrafts and technology
Green Technologies
Voi
Kenya

The initiative aims to provide the market with quality bamboo handicrafts, furniture and other items, as well as alternative construction materials. This supports ongoing forest restoration efforts around Taita Hills Forests and also provides rural households with an alternative fuel. The initiative is based on the sustainable management of natural resources. Inspired by growing local demand for alternative timber sources, the initiative focuses on bamboo handicraft production, providing community members with training, alternative livelihoods and a platform for sharing experience. The business is operated by teams of common interest groups (craft and furniture artisans and the Vidasi Vikapu women’s group) alongside partners from the initiative. Products are designed to offer green solutions and will be marketed through local cooperatives. 

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
The initiative provides quality bamboo handicrafts and furniture and supports ongoing forest restoration efforts around Taita Hills Forests as well as rural households with an alternative fuel source.
  • Increasing the amount of irrigated farming area by 5% within two years through the use of cost-effective technology.
  • Improving the skills of 150+ young people and woman artisans, engaging disadvantaged groups in the bamboo cottage industry.
  • Conserving what remains of Taita Hills Forests that provides a valuable ecosystem to almost 300,000 people and countless animals in the Tsavo East National Park.

 

 

  • Providing rural households with a steady income, create employment opportunities for young people and women.
  • Producing more cost-effective construction and furniture production materials, enabling local businesses to be more competitive.

Partners

This is a local non-goverment organisation which has joined forces with community organisations and the local government to support bamboo plantations and the marketing of bamboo and other non-timber forest products, relieving the pressure for cutting down forests by providing an alternative source of construction materials.

Taita Taveta Wildlife Forum (TTWF) leads the initiative. TTWF provides technical support, coordination and project implementation monitoring. 

The RONGO Water Resources Users Association provides access to the local community and helps mobilise them.

The Kenya Forest Service provides the initiative with policy guidelines and technical support, especially with regard to setting up bamboo nurseries.