Nyayo Tea Zones Development Corporation was established in 1986 as a State Corporation to protect and conserve the country’s gazetted forests. The Corporation is mandated to promote forest conservation by providing buffer zones of tea and assorted tree species to check human encroachment into forestland. This is achieved through the establishment of tea and assorted tree buffer belts around those forests. The Corporation operates in seventeen zones across the country. The tea zones not only help and protect the forests but they also help in the rehabilitation of ecologically fragile areas.
The buffer is a unique concept that has been very successful and is a shining example of innovative approaches to solve problems of human encroachment into forests which also allows for harmonious existence between agricultural activities, conservation and communities living adjacent to the forests. In the process, the Corporation makes profits from tea and fuel wood proceeds thus generating its own revenue. Some of the proceeds from tea and fuel wood are ploughed back into the communities through monetary disbursements to Community Based Organisations in the Corporation’s 17 zones to enable them to engage in afforestation and income generating activities so that the communities can become custodians of forest protection instead of being agents of destruction.
So far the Corporation has disbursed Kshs. 96 million to support 104 CBOs in both the afforestation and income generation activities programmes. These community programmes have not only economically empowered communities living adjacent to forests but also greatly reduced their reliance on forest products for their livelihood. The Corporation also provides employment to the local communities, which has contributed much to the prevention of forestland destruction by offering alternative sources of income to improve livelihoods.
Vision
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Mission
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Core Values |
| To be a leader in conservation of forests and protection of the environment. |
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To effectively protect the gazetted forest cover, achieve the high quality tea and fuel wood production, and build a profitable Corporation. |
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The corporation is guided by the following core values in the conduct of its business: integrity, professionalism, teamwork, commitment and respect for each other. |
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