Meet the team for #LEAFlaunch
As part of our Launch event, we are featuring profiles of our team. We ask them what their role is, why they got involved and what excites them about LEAF’s future. As it’s national Tree week, we also ask them what their favourite tree is.
Today we meet our botanists and volunteers in Kenya helping plant our first trees
Oscar Mwaura
What is your role at LEAF?
I am Oscar, a junior Botanist, heading the project in Pwani University.
Why did you get involved with LEAF?
Why I got Involved is because of my vast knowledge and experience in tree nursery and its operations, attained from KEFRI (Kenya Forest Research Institute) and my passion and zeal in Botany and Bio conservation.
What is your Favourite Kenyan Tree Species?
My favorite tree in Kenya is Thespesia danis due to its combination of uses, fruits, ornamental, still a medicinal plant. I also like Dialium orientale, Mkilua fragrans and Adenium obesum.
What you are most excited about regarding LEAF's plans for the future?
What I am excited about LEAF and what I love about it is the enthusiasm and passion for conserving our trees, especially the endangered trees, creating more jungles through tree planting, and creating new forests to make this world a green, safe world.
Oscar Mwaura planting our first tree in Pwani university
Caroline Muthoni is a #theLEAF champion
Caroline Muthoni
What is your role at LEAF?
I am Caroline and I am a junior botanist at LEAF in Pwani University. My role at LEAF involves the restoration of Pwani University grounds and surrounding relic patches through tree planting.
Why did you get involved with LEAF?
Climate change has always been a subject of interest to me. During my attachment at Kenya Forestry Research Institute, I was able to understand how trees contribute to the raise of the forest cover. I joined the LEAF because of the shared drive to restoring the endangered and critically endangered trees at the coast of Kenya.
What is your Favourite Kenyan Tree species?
My favorite Kenyan tree is the Afzelia quanzensis also known as the pod mahogany. Its beautiful seeds and flowers amazes me but the cherry on top is the pod. As the name says it: pod mahogany.
I also love the African sandalwood. Its long lasting fragrance is just amazing.
What you are most excited about regarding LEAF's plans for the future?
The LEAF future plan that excites me the most is that of establishing jungles in the coming few years.
Wincate Kagane
What is your role at LEAF?
I am Wincate and I'm a junior botanist working in the Pwani University project. My primary role is tree planting for rehabilitation of Pwani University.
Why did you get involved with LEAF?
I'm an enthusiast of nature. Having worked as an intern at the national museums of Kenya in the coastal forests conservation unit, I got exposed to the state of our forests here. There's so much deforestation and it's heartbreaking seeing these forests slowly disappear. The project at LEAF brings hope of restoration of these diverse forests and I am happy to be part of the team.
What is your Favourite Kenyan Tree Species?
My favorite tree species in Kenya is Bombax rhodognophalon . The way they tower over the forests and their cultural significance just amazes me.
I also love Mkilua fragrans. The sweet smelling flowers are pure bliss.
What you are most excited about regarding LEAF's plans for the future?
What I'm most excited about LEAF's plan for the future is simply the creation of jungles. Seeing more trees planted and more forests restored.
Wincate Kagane loves all wildlife. Not just trees.
Wacuka Maina under an Acacia tree
Wacuka Maina
What is your role at LEAF?
I am a Volunteer happy to offer operational and administrative support.
Why did you get involved with LEAF?
My involvement is motivated by the opportunity to participate in truly inspirational and impactful projects contributing to addressing biodiversity loss and climate change.
What is your Favourite Kenyan TREE SPECIes?
My favourite tree species vary depending on whether I think about an ecological, sentimental or cultural perspective. Suffice to say that of the dozens of species in my garden, Jacaranda Mimosifolia, Acacia Xanthphloea (Yellow Naivasha Thorn Acacia), Spathodea Campanulata (Nandi Flame), Juniperus Procera (African Pencil Cedar) and Warbugia Ugandensis (East African Great Heart) are currently my "Top 5".
what you are most excited about regarding LEAF's plans for the future?
I am most excited about witnessing the ecological transformations triggered by the LEAF's projects unfold.