Seminar in China: Forestry Ecological Restoration for BRI Countries
Hangzhou, China, 9-22 September 2026
Misitu Milele took part in the Seminar on Forestry Ecological Restoration for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Countries in Hangzhou, China, and was represented by our Treasurer. The China National Bamboo Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Forestry hosted the two-week seminar. It brought together forestry officials and practitioners from Africa, Asia and the Pacific for lectures and field visits in Zhejiang and Anhui provinces.
Key lessons for Misitu Milele
- Integrated landscape restoration: China restores mountains, rivers, forests, farmland and grasslands as one connected system. This supports our landscape-scale approach as we work to restore one million acres across Kenya.
- Restoring degraded land: Saihanba’s journey from barren land to one of the world’s largest planted forests, along with sessions on erosion control and mine-site restoration, supports our focus on tree survival and long-term care.
- Forests for water: Visits to Xiangong Lake and the Oujiang River source showed how forests protect water resources. Watershed protection is central to our work.
- Technology for monitoring: Drone and remote sensing tools can make our impact more measurable and transparent.
- Communities and livelihoods: In Yunhe County, restoration goes hand in hand with rural development and benefit-sharing for villagers. This supports our work with Community Forest Associations and shows how our nurseries and green-skills training can create sustainable livelihoods.
We thank the China National Bamboo Research Center, the Chinese Academy of Forestry and all host institutions for their hospitality. These lessons will help shape our work towards a greener, climate-resilient Kenya.
