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| The Centre for International Market Access (CIMA) is the marketing arm of Kenya Gatsby Trust (KGT), a not-for-profit organization whose main objective is poverty eradication and wealth creation through support of the Micro and Small Enterprise sector in Kenya. CIMA’s main objective within KGT is to promote the development and marketing of fair trade and environmentally-friendly products. Often working with the most remote of artisan groups, CIMA is helping struggling communities build capacity and gain access to international markets. | ||
| Material: | FSC certified Neem wood | |
| country: | Kenya | |
| email: | cima@kenyagatsby.org | |
| URL: |
www.kenyagatsby.org/ | |
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The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) promotes and certifies environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. Kenya's forest cover has been depleted to 1.7% of Kenya's total land area. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations proposes that any country with less than 10% of its land area covered by forests is environmentally unstable. By using FSC certified Neem wood CIMA is ensuring that its activities do not contribute to further deforestation in Kenya, but contribute to the recovery of Kenya's forests. |
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The Neem tree in Kenya is known as the Mwarobaini and is said to treat 40 different diseases. As the Neem tree is fast growing, requires little water and can tolerate very high temperatures it is effectively used in anti-desertification projects. |
The funds raised from the sale of these products will go towards the Good Woods project which was established in partnership with WWF, Oxfam (UK), Coastal Forest Conservation Unit and WWF-East African Region Programme (EARPO). The project promotes the use of sustainably managed farm grown Good-woods including Neem, Mango and Jacaranda in order to conserve Kenya’s indigenous hardwoods such as Ebony and Mahogany. |
All these products are handmade by skilled wood carvers using simple hand tools. Choosing hand production over mechanised production significantly reduces CO2 emissions. It also provides asset poor people living in remote areas with local income earning opportunities. |