Virgin Africa's nursery programme transformed our macadamia and avocado farming. The grafted seedlin...
What We Do
Four Pillars of Conservation
Tree planting and conservation as primary tools to restore biodiversity, protect soil and water, and strengthen community livelihoods.
01
Conserving Nature
Restoring degraded ecosystems and increasing forest cover across East and Southern Africa.
02
Protecting Wildlife
Safeguarding biodiversity and endangered species through science-backed conservation.
03
Sustaining Communities
Empowering farmers and communities with skills, enterprises, and climate finance.
04
Climate Action
Sequestering carbon and building climate-resilient landscapes for future generations.
Semi-Arid Ecosystems of Kenya
Native Tree Species We Work With
Indigenous species selected for ecological restoration, carbon sequestration, watershed protection, and long-term ecosystem resilience in Mwingi, Kitui, Mbeere, Isiolo, Machakos, Tana River, and similar semi-arid habitats.
Umbrella Thorn
Acacia tortilis
Local names: Kiseeli (Kamba), Mugaa (Embu/Kikuyu)
Highly crucial for nitrogen fixation, soil stabilization, and providing critical shade, browse (pods and leaves), and ne...
Gum Arabic Tree
Acacia senegal
Local names: King'ole (Kamba), Munuga (Embu)
Controls desertification via windbreaks, fixes atmospheric nitrogen, and produces gum that supports specialized insects...
White Gall Thistle, Red Acacia
Acacia seyal
Local names: Musei (Kamba), Murera (Embu)
Fixes nitrogen in heavy clay soils (black cotton soils) where few other trees survive, providing essential dry-season fo...
Fever Tree
Acacia xanthophloea
Local names: Murera (Embu/Kikuyu), Muyera (Kamba)
Often found near semi-arid riverbeds and water tables; acts as a prominent nesting site for birds (especially weavers) a...
Desert Date
Balanites aegyptiaca
Local names: Mulului (Kamba), Mubanjiru (Embu)
Survives extreme droughts; its highly nutritious fruits and leaves arealifelineforwildlifeduringdryspells.
Bird Plum
Berchemia discolor
Local names: Kisaaya (Kamba), Mutuu (Embu)
Its sweet, edible fruits ("Ukambani dates") attract massive populations of birds, fruit bats,and monkeys,playinganintegr...
About Virgin Africa
Science-Backed Restoration, Community-Led Impact
Virgin Africa has used tree planting and conservation as primary tools to increase land cover, restore biodiversity, protect soil and water, and ensure livelihood sustainability across previously fragile ecological zones in Kenya.
Participating communities have been empowered with knowledge, skills, and networks — resulting in social enterprises that enhance livelihoods and promote climate resilience.
Nakuru County
Previously degraded Mau water catchment
Nyeri County
Control of forest fires in critical water tower and agricultural zones
Nandi County
Lake Victoria basin/watershed and agricultural zone
Embu County
High-throughput agricultural land for cash crops and Tana River catchment
Kirinyaga County
High-throughput export horticulture zones and Tana River catchment
Kisii County
Household biogas initiatives
Tharaka Nithi County
Dryland irrigation and agroforestry by small-scale farmers
Proven Track Record
Decades of Project Experience
From organic fruit nurseries to climate assessments in Namibia, our portfolio spans forestry, biodiversity, ecotourism, and community mobilization.
5 years
2015–2019
Certified Limbua Organic Fruits Seedling Nursery
Designed and established nurseries for grafted high-value mango, macadamia, and avocado seedlings producing approximatel...
2 years
2018–2019
Biodiversity Diagnosis in Mount Kenya Coffee/Tea Zone
Developed a Biodiversity Diagnosis leading to a Biodiversity Plan for sustainable ecosystem management. Protected the ec...
4 years
2021–2024
Climate and Land Assessment in Namibia (CRAVE Project)
Climate Resilient Agriculture in three of the Vulnerable Extreme Northern Crop-Growing Regions. Socio-economic surveys,...
2 years
2015–2017
Identifying Forest Fires in Mount Kenya Forest
Developed fire danger maps combining Community Forest Association observations, historical climate trends, and aerial da...
4 years
2010–2013
Chepkiit Waterfalls Reinforcement and Ecotourism
Protection and ecotourism programme with Nandi County Council: protective rails, bridge, picnic sites, viewpoints, and g...
4 years
2014–2018
Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative (EOA-I)
Mainstreaming Ecological Organic Agriculture into National Policies, Strategies and Programmes in Africa — production, p...
1 year
2018
Indigenous Knowledge Documentation with Ogiek Community
Worked with the Ogiek community of Mau Forest to document indigenous knowledge on sustainable forest management, beekeep...
4 years
2011–2013
WaterCAP Project
Strengthened university capacity to address climate change-induced water vulnerabilities across East Africa; identified...
8 years
2016–2023
Socio-Economic Community Mobilization
Mobilized over 1,000 smallholder farmers. Socio-economic studies, impact assessments, and participatory evaluations supp...
6 months
2015
Land Survey in LAPSSET Project
Land surveying, land value indexing, and resettlement action planning along the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport...
5 years
2015–2019
Certified Limbua Organic Fruits Seedling Nursery
Designed and established nurseries for grafted high-value mango, macadamia, and avocado seedlings producing approximatel...
2 years
2018–2019
Biodiversity Diagnosis in Mount Kenya Coffee/Tea Zone
Developed a Biodiversity Diagnosis leading to a Biodiversity Plan for sustainable ecosystem management. Protected the ec...
4 years
2021–2024
Climate and Land Assessment in Namibia (CRAVE Project)
Climate Resilient Agriculture in three of the Vulnerable Extreme Northern Crop-Growing Regions. Socio-economic surveys,...
2 years
2015–2017
Identifying Forest Fires in Mount Kenya Forest
Developed fire danger maps combining Community Forest Association observations, historical climate trends, and aerial da...
4 years
2010–2013
Chepkiit Waterfalls Reinforcement and Ecotourism
Protection and ecotourism programme with Nandi County Council: protective rails, bridge, picnic sites, viewpoints, and g...
4 years
2014–2018
Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative (EOA-I)
Mainstreaming Ecological Organic Agriculture into National Policies, Strategies and Programmes in Africa — production, p...
1 year
2018
Indigenous Knowledge Documentation with Ogiek Community
Worked with the Ogiek community of Mau Forest to document indigenous knowledge on sustainable forest management, beekeep...
4 years
2011–2013
WaterCAP Project
Strengthened university capacity to address climate change-induced water vulnerabilities across East Africa; identified...
8 years
2016–2023
Socio-Economic Community Mobilization
Mobilized over 1,000 smallholder farmers. Socio-economic studies, impact assessments, and participatory evaluations supp...
6 months
2015
Land Survey in LAPSSET Project
Land surveying, land value indexing, and resettlement action planning along the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport...
Collaborative Network
Our Partners & Collaborators
Virgin Africa works with leading research institutions, government agencies, universities, and development partners across Africa and Europe to deliver science-backed conservation and community livelihood programmes.
Forestry & Research Institutions
- World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF)
- ICIPE / Biovision Africa Trust (Kenya)
- Kenya Forest Service (KFS)
- Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI)
- Kenya Forestry College (KFC), Londiani, Kericho County
- National Agricultural Research Organizations (Kenya & Uganda)
Universities & Academic Partners
- University of Namibia
- Egerton University (Kenya)
- Technical University of Vienna (TU Wien)
- University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
- University of Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
- BOKU University (Austria)
- University of Glasgow (UK)
- IHE Delft — Institute for Water Education
- African Researchers Consortium (ARC)
Government & International Organizations
- Government ministries in Kenya and Namibia
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- Stockholm Environment Institute
- Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC)
- African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Kenya
NGOs, Development & Private Sector
- Scott Wilson (UK)
- Practical Action (Rwanda)
- GIZ
- Austrian Development Agency
- SS-GATE (UNDP — US & China)
- Infodev — World Bank
- Non-governmental institutions
- Private sector partners
Interested in partnering with us?
Get In TouchVoices From the Field
What Our Partners Say
Trusted by communities, county governments, and international partners across East and Southern Africa.
The Chepkiit Waterfalls ecotourism project brought protective infrastructure and sustainable tourism...
Their biodiversity diagnosis for the Mount Kenya coffee and tea zone enabled us to meet Rainforest A...
The CRAVE climate assessment across Kavango and Zambezi regions delivered rigorous vegetation mappin...
Virgin Africa's nursery programme transformed our macadamia and avocado farming. The grafted seedlin...
The Chepkiit Waterfalls ecotourism project brought protective infrastructure and sustainable tourism...
Their biodiversity diagnosis for the Mount Kenya coffee and tea zone enabled us to meet Rainforest A...
The CRAVE climate assessment across Kavango and Zambezi regions delivered rigorous vegetation mappin...