African Forest

Kenya - Elementaita

Garden Information

Institution Code:

BGCI Member: Yes

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About the African Forest

African Forest is a holistic agro-forestry social enterprise, founded in 2006, and based on the edge of Soysambu Conservancy, a 22,000 ha ranch surrounding Lake Elmenteita, in the Rift Valley. African Forest has a 51 ha plot on the edge of the ranch, where they have an indigenous organic tree nursery, with over 80 different species and tree seed centre and trial plantations of Planet Positive Forestry. They also produce and promote, in conjunction with the local communities, sustainable NTFP’s (non-timber forest products) including herbal medicines. Services include plantation establishment and management, reforestation and sustainable development planning and implementation, as well as assistance in raising green finance. In 2015 they will commence planting a medicine woman arboretum, which will cover an area of around 20 hectares.

Main Address:
African Forest
Soysambu Estate
PO Box 21209
Elementaita
00505 Nairobi Kenya

Telephone: + 254 (0) 722 514765 / + 254 (0) 714 048900
Fax:
URL: www.african-forest.net
Primary Email: info@african-forest.net

Staff Details

Director's Name: Helen Thornton-Mutiso
Curator's Name: Kenya Mutiso
Plant Records Officer's Name: Sally Rop
Total Staff:
Horticultural Staff Number: 8
Educational Staff Number: 1
Research Staff Number: 1
Administration Staff Number: 1

About the Garden

Institution Type: Other
Status
Status: Private: Yes
Status: State: No
Status: Educational: Yes
Status: Municipal: No
Status: Satellite: No
Status: Trust: Yes
Date founded: 2006
Physical Data
Natural Vegetation Area: Yes
Natural vegetation area: Size: 48 Hectares
Landscaped Area: Yes
Landscaped Area: Size: 3 Hectares
Total Area: 51 Hectares
Latitude: -0.379644
Longitude: 36.243570
Annual Rainfall: 800 mm
Altitude: 1915.00 Metres
Total area of glasshouses: 32 Metres
Total area of shadehouses: 2000 Metres
Locality: Information
Locality: Garden Name: African Forest
Local Address: Soysambu Ranch, Gilgil District, Nakuru County
Locality: City: Nakuru
Locality: State: Nakuru

Features and Facilities

Herbarium: No
Arboretum: Yes
Arboretum Size: 3
Micropropagation/ Tissue Culture Facilities: No
Seed Bank: Yes
Published Plant Catalogue: Yes
Computer Plant Record System: No
Open to public: Yes
Friends society: No
Retail Outlet: Shop: No
Retail Outlet: Plant Sales: Yes
Number of Visitors: 200

Plant Collections

Accession Number: 120
Cultivation Taxa Num: 120
Special Collections:African Forest focuses on indigenous Kenyan tree species, with some shrubs and some exotic trees.
Invasive Species Monitoring: No
Invasive Species Policy: No
ABS Policy: No
Plant Collection Policy: No

Conservation Programmes

Conservation Programme: Yes
Medicinal Plant Programme: Yes
Ex Situ Conservation Programme: No

Research Programmes

Biotechnology: No
Plant Breeding: Yes
Conservation - Biology: Yes
Conservation - Genetics: No
Data Management Systems and Information Technology: Yes
Ecology: No
Ecosystem Conservation: Yes
Education: Yes
Ethnobotany: Yes
Exploration: No
Floristics: No
Horticulture: No
Invasive Species Biology and Control: No
Molecular Genetics: No
Pollination Biology: No
Restoration Ecology: Yes
Seed/Spore Biology: No
Systematics and Taxonomy: No
Sustainability: Yes
Pharmacology: No
Agriculture: Yes
Land Restoration: Yes
Urban Environments: No

Education Programmes

Visitor/Education Centre: No
Education Signs in Garden: No
Public Lectures/Talks: Yes
Education Booklets/Leaflets: Yes
Guided Tours: Yes
Permanent Public Displays: No
Special Exhibitions: No
Courses for School Children: No
Courses for University/College Students: No
Courses for General Public: No
Education Programme: No

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