Kaptagat Cow Hotel: Linking Livestock Farming to Forest Conservation

Residents of Kaptagat are embracing an innovative approach to conservation that combines livestock farming, dairy production and forest restoration. Through the proposed “cow hotel,” participating families will keep their cattle in a centrally managed facility with shared feeding, veterinary care and milking services. Locally grown maize will provide affordable animal feed, while a SACCO will help market the milk and return income to farmers. The initiative is part of the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme (KICP), which aims to restore forest ecosystems while improving livelihoods and reducing pressure on Kaptagat’s restored forest blocks.