Akara Hills located in Siaya County are an important water catchment area for the Yala Swamp wetland which is home to the endangered antelope Sitatunga, the haplochromine fish species, and a potential ecotourism destination. This ecosystem is however highly threatened as a result of unsustainable exploitation by the local community for charcoal and firewood. This increase in overexploitation is as a result of increasing human population, poverty and high rates of unemployment in the country. Attempts by the county government to rehabilitate this ecosystem have been hampered mainly by poor community participation like in other parts of the country. One way of addressing most of the countries environmental problems is to empower the community through awareness and education on the importance of conservation. Communities need to plant trees and be trained on alternative sources of energy like making briquettes, and how to unlock the ecosystem capital for sustainable development. This project will work towards achieving this through educating school going pupils, students and the community members from Akara Hills area on tree planting, alternative energy sources, ecotourism and apiculture.

The project will establish tree nurseries both for indigenous and fruit trees with primary, secondary schools and community based organisations. Tree seedlings from the schools will be planted within the school compounds and labelled, fruit trees will be used to create an orchard, while tree seedlings from the community nurseries will be sold by the groups as a source of income. Fruits from the trees will also be used to address nutritional needs in the area. The overall goal of the project is to establish permanent tree nurseries with the community groups and schools to provide seedlings for Akara Hills continued rehabilitation and other conservation exercises. Through the project the community members will also be empowered and made aware of other income generating activities like apiculture and ecotourism.