Kaya forests are important to biodiversity locally and globally, as well as playing a significant role in the conservation of biodiversity and preservation of the local traditional culture and heritage. However, these kayas are faced by several challenges that threaten their continued existence. These threats include, the declining respect of traditional management systems and practices, limited knowledge of values and importance of Kaya forests and lack of alternative income to the local communities as envisaged in the Kaya Forest Adaptive Strategy .

The declining respect for the cultural and traditional practices that were central to conservation of kayas has been attributed to lack of knowledge and awareness on biodiversity conservation. The young generation no long appreciate the kaya elders and cultural heritage practices which they perceive old fashioned. This has led to the marked departure from activities such as traditional dances, storytelling and songs has led to loss of value knowledge. This has increased the vulnerability of the kayas to degradation and loss of their biodiversity and cultural heritage.

The project seeks to conserve the remaining patches of Kaya Mtswakara and Gandini through knowledge transfer, creation of awareness and biodiversity surveys. To achieve this, several activities will be carried out such as development of comic strips to reteach culture and conservation history, seminars and trainings, holding school education sessions and conducting census. The project will target school children aged between 8-17 years and two community groups who form the bulk of the future generation.

The project will be implemented through partnership with National Museums of Kenya (NMK), Kenya Forest Services (KFS), schools, Kenya Wildlife services, World Wide Fund for nature (WWF), County Government of Kwale and Kaya elders.

This project will contribute to the achievement of outcome 1 and 4 of the Mijikenda landscape strategy for supporting restoration of traditional cultural conservation practices and systems of Kaya forest ecosystems, biodiversity and institution capacity building . Likewise, the project will contribute to the Sixth Operational Phase of the GEF Small Grants Programme, outcome 1.2: ?Ecosystem and biodiversity conservation enhanced community-based interventions in the target landscapes. In our case, creation of awareness on conservation education?; and outcome 2.2: ?Knowledge enhancement among community groups and learning is documented, disseminated and made available to policy makers at county and national level?. In this regard school wildlife clubs and participating Kaya Mstwakara and Gandini conservation groups.