El-Koony Trust

28/03/2025

What a remarkable achievement for the newest Transboundary Biosphere Reserve in Uganda and Kenya, Mt Elgon Ecosystem Transboundary Reserve....

11/12/2023

Happy International Mountain Day!
We take a moment to appreciate the scenic views of Mount Elgon peak. The greater Mount Elgon ecosystem provides food, water, and other ecosystem services, as well as being home to approximately 1 million people across Kenya and Uganda. It is an essential habitat for a diverse and distinct population of plants and animals. We hope to see more activities in this ecosystem such as hiking, and mountain climbing, soon, to inspire the long-term conservation and preservation of this wonderful region!!

09/08/2023

Happy World Indigenous Day! We celebrate and honour the indigenous communities living in and around the Mount Elgon Ecosystem and recognize their invaluable contributions to the ecological, socio-cultural, and economic fabric of the landscape.

06/06/2023

The celebration of World Environment Day this week, reminds us of our collective responsibility and commitment to environmental conservation. The theme is a call to action the 3 Rs: reuse, recycle and redesign materials, to minimise plastic and all forms of waste. We echo the sentiments shared by Chela Kikwai of Ikosafi Africa on the urgent need to combat this global menace which has gained significant momentum, particularly in developing countries. We agree on the need to foster better leadership, increase education, pursue innovative technologies and create strategi partnerships amongst stakeholders to achieve sustainable solutions. For more on this stimulating article, https://vocal.media/earth/africa-s-triumph-over-plastic-waste

Africa

Paving the Way for Sustainable Waste Management

22/05/2023

Happy International Day for Biological Diversity 2023! We celebrate the aethestic beauty and vast fauna and floral diversity of Mount Elgon Ecosystem. This year's theme is 'From Agreement to Action: Build back Biodiversity'. We at El-Koony Center remain committed to engaging with local, regional and international stakeholders, to follow up on promises made in COP15 and ensure biodiversity protection and conservation is addressed with the urgency it requires in the current global environment.



📸 Celebrity Xpeditions Africa

02/02/2023

Happy World Wetlands Day! We recognise the immense value of wetlands which provide habitats for diverse fauna and flora, support livelihoods including agriculture, tourism and forestry, ecosystem services provision such water quality regulation and carbon sequestration. For '23 the theme chosen was 'Wetlands Restoration' to address challenges currently faced by wetlands worldwide. Today in Trans Nzoia County, at the Wiyeta Wetlands adjacent to Saiwa Swamp National Park, local residents together representatives from various stakeholders hosted an event to commemorate and celebrate the day.

02/02/2023

Thank you so much Ecologistics for featuring our founder Dr. Jacqueline Kariithi on your platform!

06/12/2022

The Mount Elgon ecosystem is currently facing a serious crisis from deforestation, overutilization of the natural resources and large populations encroaching the forest. The following recent feature from an NTV Kenya news broadcast , highlights the severity of the current water shortages. The Mount Elgon region is currently experiencing grave water shortages that have precipitated to levels leading to the local residents facing unmitigated struggles whilst pursuing their livelihoods. This is very worrying, for a region that once had an abundant supply of water and supplies a large portion of the country's cereal crops and food supplies. It is imperative that all stakeholders realize the connection between biodiversity loss and its devastating impacts on key natural resources such water, soil quality, plant and animal diversity. At El-Koony Center, we aim to address these challenges head on, through evidence-based research, capacity building and co-management approaches with stakeholders to specifically pursue tools, methods and policies for informed and meaningful natural resources management of the Mount Elgon ecosystem.

Credit: , December 3, 2022,

Subscribe to NTV Kenya channel for latest Kenyan news today and everyday. Get the Kenya news updates, discussions and other exciting shows.Website: ntvkenya....

08/11/2022

A quick google search on ‘mountain climbing Kenya’ gives you a list of a lot of other destinations and rarely does Mt Elgon feature, particularly on the Kenya side. It would make a great destination for ardent climbers and it takes 1-2 days to reach the peak, depending on the starting point. Here we have a group, scaling through a shorter route which took them about 5 hours from the Chepkitale National Reserve. The landscape is absolutely stunning and littered with Dendrosenecio elgonensis which is endemic to Mt. Elgon in Kenya and Uganda and found between 2700 and 4200 m, where it is the dominant plant species. These pictures give us an up close view of these delightful plants that one encounters as you hike up the Mount Elgon slope. Dendrosenecio elgonensis can grow to 7 meters tall, with a trunk to 30 centimeters in diameter. The plant generally keeps its stem cloaked with its withered and decaying foliage or they retain their leaf-bases after fire, but eventually lose them as bark develops.



Photo credits: Celebrity Xpeditions Africa Safaris