Mission

The mission of SONABIC is to ensure sustainable financing and unity with the community in conservation so as to run quality eco-friendly income generating activities, environmental education programmes, forest enrichment and agro forestry for improved livelihood now and for the future generations.

Vision

To improve the livelihood of the community through sustaiable utilization of natural resources

Our Story

South Nandi Biodiversity Conservation Group (SONABIC) is a community-based organization based in Nandi county, Nandi South district, Kaptumo location, Chepkong’ony sub-location that was formed in 1999 and registered with the District Social and Gender Development office in 2004.The group has 35members, 14 females and 21males.

South Nandi Biodiversity Conservation Group (SONABIC) is undertaking environmental conservation initiatives in the area with the assistance of government line ministries and other partners

Over the past, the group has been involved in HIV/AIDS awareness with the help of the Public Health officer in Kaptumo Health Centre. However, due to lack of funds, the activity was abandoned in 2003. Other activities that the group engages in include beekeeping using Langstroth beehives, tree nursery with a capacity of 100,000 seedlings, environmental education in 13 schools, forest and bird monitoring, forest rehabilitation, organizing World Environment Day celebrations, world wetlands day, world migratory bird day since 1999, annual tree planting exercises, fish farming with 3 ponds, and doing exhibitions and field days with the Ministry of Agriculture.

A rapidly growing population in Chepkong’ony sub-location coupled with unsustainable land use has led to loss of tree cover and soil erosion. This has exerted pressure on natural resources in the area. Indicators of the increased pressure are the diminishing land sizes, felling of trees on lands, over cultivation on slopes and spring degradation. This degradation has also affected riverbanks

Institutional Capacity

SONABIC is managed by a 10-member management committee consisting of the chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, treasurer, project manager and 5 heads of departments (forest restoration, beekeeping, environmental education, ecotourism & research, and community development departments).

Currently, the CBO has no staff, and all members carry out the activities on a voluntary basis.

Relevant expertise

• The Project Manager is a holder of Bachelor of Agribusiness Management with more than 18 years’ experience working with projects both in agriculture and in forestry/natural resources management. He is also a holder of post graduate Diploma in Project Management from the Kenya institute of Management, an associate EIA expert registered with IEK, and currently pursuing MSc in Natural Resources Management (Forestry option) at Egerton University.
• The head of forest restoration is a trained forester with a Certificate in Forestry from the Kenya Forestry College, Londiani.
• 6 members have skills in, and have been trained in tree nursery establishment and management by KEFRI, KFS and Nature Kenya
• 20 CBO members have been trained on group leadership and management skills
• 2 members have been trained by Ministry of Agriculture in soil conservation with a bias on laying terraces
• 12 members have been trained with the Ministry of Fisheries Development in basic fish farming
• All members have been trained on environmental education, bird and forest monitoring

Office, assets and equipment

Apart from having the above relevant expertise, SONABIC has an office in Chepkong’ony trading centre. The office is 2-roomed; the front is the office and the back acts as the store. The group has an office desk, office chairs, tables, filing cabinet, white board, files, stapler, paper punch, flip charts, marker pens and masking tapes.

In addition, the group owns a computer and printer, and a mobile phone. For communication, the CBO has a postal address and an email address. The CBO also has 2 motorcycles in good working condition. SONABIC acquired a 0.2 are piece of land bought from incomes from sale of honey and tree seedlings. The process of transfer of ownership is almost complete.

Objectives

The group shall have four objectives namely:

• To promote forest enrichment and agroforestry
• To utilize biological resources to generate income
• To raise community awareness on the value and importance of the local forest and surrounding environment
• To undertake AIDS awareness and control programmes for the preservation of the peri-forest community’s future generations’ interests