Environmental Impact

Jatonet Kenya is committed to developing sustainable bamboo plantations on degraded land that underwent deforestation more than a decade ago, and where the current trend is decreasing biomass and increasing degradation. By creating bamboo forest ecosystems, we impact the environment through increased biodiversity connectivity, improved ecosystem services such as soil and water quality, and mitigatation of climate change.

Combating Climate Change with Bamboo

Our reforestation using selected species of tropical clumping bamboos positively contributes to the fight against climate change in 3 major ways:

• Carbon Sequestration: Its fast growth enables well-managed bamboo plantations to sequester significant quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) in a relatively short time period. If the harvested culms are utilized in long term wood products (such as flooring, decking, construction etc) and this carbon is stored indefinitely, the total sequestration properties over time are considerably higher.
• Harvesting Stimulates Growth: The harvesting of selective culms does not kill the bamboo 'tree' but rather stimulates increased growth and therefore further sequestration, not only above ground but below ground in the intricate rhizome system, and through increased soil carbon levels.
• Bamboo as a Timber Alternative: 20 - 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions currently come from land use change - in particular deforestation and degradation. Jatonet's Bamboo’s plantation development of timber bamboo offers a cheaper and more sustainable source of timber to markets currently relying on natural forests. Such markets contribute to deforestation, as well as the continued trend towards endangered status for many of these species.

Biodiversity Protection and Conservation

The destruction of forests is intimately connected to loss of biodiversity. Jatonet Group projects must meet certain biodiversity and conservation criteria.Ensuring that existing areas of conservation value are protected, and biodiversity within the project areas is maximized. On average 20% of jatonet property is not developed as bamboo plantation area but is maintained or restored with indigenous species as conservation areas.

Ecosystem Services

Jatonet Group operates in areas where the land underwent severe deforestation more than a decade ago, and where continued land degradation has occurred. Exposed land becomes susceptible to erosion, and tropical downpours results in the leaching of valuable nutrients. Water resources also undergo changes as reduced evapo-transpiration results in altered micro-climates, typically becoming hotter and drier. JatonetGroup utilizes specific species suited to each location context to reforest these areas in to fully functioning ecosystems, reversing land degradation - soil erosion, compaction and depletion, and maintaining water cycles.