Community Engagement Workshop 2025

Ecotourism Kenya is partnering with the Muguga Ecosystem Research Community Forest Association (CFA) to drive meaningful conservation of the Muguga Forest while enhancing the socio-economic well-being of the surrounding community. Muguga CFA is a community-run organisation situated in Muguga forest station in Central Highlands Forest Conservancy, with 14 years of conservation of Muguga Forest. We aim to achieve this partnership initiative through focused awareness-raising, capacity-building, and the development and execution of ecotourism activities and waste management initiatives to improve the sustainable management and conservation of Muguga Forest. 

Muguga CFA faces several key challenges hindering its conservation efforts:

• Pollution and Improper Waste Disposal: Poor waste management, especially the dumping of non-organic waste like diapers, threatens the forest ecosystem, pollutes water sources, and endangers wildlife.

Read here the Muguga Forest case study article on The Environmental Burden of Disposable Diapers

• Limited Marketing and Public Awareness: Inadequate marketing limits visibility, reduces public engagement, and hampers efforts to promote the forest’s tourism and conservation potential.

• Financial Challenges: Insufficient funding and low revenue generation limit the CFA’s ability to carry out vital activities such as tree planting, patrols, and ecosystem restoration, affecting long-term planning and impact.

We are hosting a Community Engagement Workshop themed ‘Sustainable Practices for a Thriving Community’.

Dates: 14th to the 15th of August 2025

Venue: Muguga Forest, Kiambu

The training offered will;

1. Increase awareness and understanding of pollution and its effects on the environment.
2. Build capacity for sustainable forest management practices within the community.
3. Enhance knowledge and skills in ecotourism development and promotion.
4. Improve marketing and public relations strategies for promoting eco-friendly products and services.
5. Foster collaboration and partnerships with relevant stakeholders to support conservation efforts.

This will contribute toward the sustainable management, use and conservation of Muguga Forest.

The first day of the workshop, the 14th of August, is reserved for the Muguga Ecosystem Research Community Forest Association members.

The second day, the open day on the 15th of August, is open to all at a registration fee of Ksh. 1,500

To attend the open day, register here

This is an opportune opportunity to connect with Muguga CFA, Ecotourism Kenya and conservation and local tourism enthusiasts. Don’t miss out!

We also invite you to collaborate with us in this venture. Please reach out via communities@ecotourismkenya.org, or +254 726 366 080

Fun Facts About Muguga Forest

1. A Part of a Larger Ecosystem:
   Muguga Forest is part of the Muguga ecosystem, home to some of Kenya’s top forest research institutions, including the well-known forest road towards the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI).

2. A Natural Lab:
   The forest has long been used for academic fieldwork and environmental training, making it a key outdoor classroom for students, researchers, and conservationists alike.

3. Home to Unique Biodiversity:
   Despite being close to urban settlements, Muguga Forest shelters a rich mix of indigenous tree species, birdlife, small mammals, and unique forest plants, some of which are rare or threatened.

4. A Forest Under Pressure:
   Muguga Forest may not be as large or famous as other forests in Kenya, but it plays a vital role in carbon storage, water regulation, and biodiversity preservation, functions now threatened by pollution and human encroachment.

5. Accessible Nature Near the City:
   Located just outside Nairobi, Muguga Forest offers a breath of fresh air and a taste of indigenous woodland for urban dwellers, ideal for birdwatching, guided walks, or low-impact tourism.