Environmental conservation and sustainability: How Safal Group is helping communities to build resilience

Environmental conservation and sustainability are more than just global buzzwords. They are the cornerstones of resilient communities.

Across Africa, the impact of climate change and human activity on ecosystems is profound, affecting livelihoods and depleting natural resources. At Safal Group, we believe in the power of collective action, creativity, and innovation to inspire change. Through initiatives like the Safal Eye in the Wild Photography Competition and the work of the Safal MRM Foundation, we are making sustainability tangible through art and action.

Environmental conservation through photography

Launched in 2017, the Safal Eye in the Wild Photography Competition connects photography with conservation. By engaging photographers across Africa, this initiative amplifies stories of our environment – its beauty, challenges, and opportunities.

Each year, the competition focuses on a theme that reflects pressing environmental issues. From wildlife conservation to water scarcity and, most recently, drought, the themes ignite conversations around sustainable solutions.

The 2023 competition, themed “Drought in Focus”, captured the resilience of communities and ecosystems navigating the harsh realities of drought. The winning images not only showcased talent but also called for action, spotlighting efforts like planting indigenous trees in drought-prone areas of Northern Kenya.

Sustainability in Action: The role of Safal MRM Foundation

Beyond raising awareness, Safal Group actively drives sustainability through the impactful initiatives of its corporate foundation in Kenya, the Safal MRM Foundation. Rooted in key pillars – environmental conservation, health, education, and shelter – the Foundation has become a beacon of change, empowering communities to build a better future.

In its commitment to environmental stewardship, the Foundation has pioneered programmes that go beyond advocacy to create tangible results. Its tree-planting initiative, aligned with the pledge to plant over a million trees, stands as a testament to this dedication. By collaborating with community structures and schools, the Foundation has planted 10,000 trees in public schools in Mariakani alone, complemented by comprehensive environmental education programmes.

One of the key drivers of these efforts is the fruit seedling propagation facility at the Mabati Technical Training Institute. This facility not only supplies seedlings but also serves as a hub for mentorship under the School Greening and Beautification Programme. By educating students and communities on afforestation, conservation, and sustainable farming, the Foundation nurtures a generation of environmentally conscious citizens.

The Foundation also exemplifies sustainability through its waste-to-wealth initiative, turning organic waste into compost. This programme, carried out in collaboration with Herbivore254, trains youth in permaculture and regenerative farming techniques, equipping them with skills to improve food security and combat climate change. These efforts extend to establishing community permaculture gardens, which serve as models for creating sustainable kitchen gardens in arid and semi-arid regions.

A recent initiative has seen the Safal MRM Foundation and its staff take part in an ambitious tree planting exercise at the Chandaria Forest, located in Ribe, Kilifi County. With the support of the Methodist Church, this project aims to plant trees on 10 to 15 acres of donated land.

The potential impact of this reforestation effort in a semi-arid area is significant. By restoring degraded land, the initiative helps combat desertification, preventing soil erosion and improving land fertility. The trees also enhance local water cycles, increasing moisture retention and supporting water availability for both people and wildlife. In addition, the trees contribute to climate resilience by acting as natural carbon sinks, mitigating the effects of extreme weather and regulating local temperatures. Furthermore, by establishing a forested area in a semi-arid region, the project fosters biodiversity revival, providing habitats for a variety of species and promoting ecological balance. This initiative also offers economic opportunities, as it creates jobs in tree maintenance and opens up sustainable agricultural prospects for the surrounding community.

Through strategic partnerships with organisations like the Global Peace Foundation and the Chandaria Foundation, the Safal MRM Foundation amplifies its impact. These alliances enable the Foundation to expand seedling production, distribute them widely, and promote environmental education, fostering reforestation and the restoration of degraded lands across Kenya.

By connecting awareness to action, the Safal MRM Foundation ensures that conservation is not just an ideal but a reality, leaving behind resilient ecosystems and empowered communities. As climate challenges persist, these initiatives reaffirm the Foundation’s unwavering commitment to creating a greener, more sustainable future for all.

The impact on communities

Sustainability is not just about protecting the environment. It’s about ensuring a better quality of life for communities. For instance:

• Economic Impact: Conservation activities like reforestation and sustainable agriculture provide livelihoods while preserving natural resources.
• Social Impact: Educational campaigns instil environmental consciousness in future generations, fostering a culture of care and responsibility.
• Resilience: Projects addressing drought or deforestation directly enhance the ability of communities to withstand climate challenges.

Photography, as championed by Safal Eye in the Wild, adds an emotional and visual dimension to these efforts, encouraging widespread engagement and participation.

A call to action

The time for collective action is now. Whether through partnerships, individual contributions, or creative endeavours, everyone has a role to play in building a sustainable future. At Safal Group, we are committed to using our platforms and resources to inspire and support these efforts.

By linking art with advocacy, and awareness with action, initiatives like Safal Eye in the Wild and the Safal MRM Foundation prove that sustainability is achievable when communities and organisations come together for a common cause.

Let us rally behind the vision of a greener, more sustainable Africa, where creativity, innovation and commitment lead the way.