Kenneth Omondi Ochieng Kones is a young Kenyan climate restoration visionary leader, entrepreneur, permaculture and syntropic agroforestry designer and educator. Professionally, am an accountant, Supply chain Management and community development expert with over 15 years’ experience, having served in various capacities in different organizations. As a site coordinator with Abt- Pmi – Vectorlink –Kenya, Community development officer by KEMRI-RCTP-FACES committed to improving the lives of the people living with HIV/AIDS in the remote
areas, just to mention a few.
Upon completion of his last role as a coordinator, Omondi, initiated an Ecosystem restoration program dabbed Two Million Trees campaign in the year 2020 following the draught experienced during that season and being inspired by his late single mother whose love for trees to conserve environment steered her to plant three trees and tasking Omondi to take care after her demise. With skills in community development and management, Omondi has been capitalizing on to mobilize the communities for a common goal of creating food forests across East African countries, which include Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. So far, from three trees planted by his mother to 1.7 million trees in the created food forests to kill two birds with one stone – fighting global warming by fixing the carbon to the soil from the atmosphere and global hunger. The projects involve planting trees using biochar enriched with organic fertilizers from animals, birds’ droppings, and tree leaves.
Omondi, being an orphan at a tender age, also opened his Eco farm to the orphans and the vulnerable children from his community whom he cares for education, health, housing them and all the basics. Omondi’s projects also extend to women’s empowerment through sewing cooperatives and to the people living with disability. In 2023, he also launched a program dubbed Let Marine Life Breathe; he led the Muslim communities in a weekly ocean clean-up exercise, and back at home, Lake Victoria was getting rid of dumped plastics and advocating against the use of harmful pesticides. Omondi’s years of diverse experience in Entrepreneurship have modeled training spurring economic growth in the remote villages where he comes from. Many women, who underwent his training armed with skills, have started their own businesses.
Dear Friends,
In the spirit of saving our Mother Earth from destruction due to our
irresponsible actions, I call upon the fellow citizens of the world to unite and
spring into action, backed with scientific research that will salvage the Earth
from the future generations. We need to change our mindset towards climate
restorations.
My commitments are to have a healthy climate restored within my lifetime, so
that my children and future grandchildren will have a clean, healthy air to
breathe, healthy soil to grow food, healthy food free from destructive chemicals,
restored marine life, and thriving animals. As an environmental activist, a
permaculture practitioner and agroforest designer, I’m urging my fellow
environmental activists to join me in my two-million-tree campaign, which is
geared towards storing carbon safely into the Earth. Here, what we basically
do is to first fertilize the soil using manure and biochar to amend the soil, then
we create food forests. Our work as an ecosystem restoration team is to ensure
thriving ocean ecosystems with fish that feed humanity and coral.
As a youth, I invite you to join us in climate restoration.
At Climate Restoration, we believe Ocean Iron Fertilization (OIF) is one of the most promising biotic strategies. The McKinsey article provides independent validation across several dimensions: scale, urgency, complementarity, and risk management. Below, we unpack how those align with our mission.
1. Oceans Must Be Part of the Carbon Removal Portfolio
McKinsey notes that ocean CDR could become a central component of long-term carbon removal strategies and emphasizes that nearly all ocean-based approaches have gigaton-scale potential.
This matches our foundational premise: no matter how deeply we cut emissions, we can’t reach safe atmospheric CO₂ levels without actively enhancing nature’s capacity to absorb carbon. The ocean — covering 70 % of Earth’s surface — is the logical frontier for that effort.
2. OIF is Recognized as a Key Biotic Pathway
Among the multiple CDR approaches McKinsey reviews, open-ocean microalgae fertilization (i.e. OIF) features prominently. They group it with other “biotic / ecosystem approaches” such as coastal restoration and algae cultivation.
By including OIF alongside more established paths, McKinsey implicitly endorses its legitimacy and potential. That helps counter the narrative that OIF is speculative or fringe.
McKinsey’s analysis highlights attributes that strengthen OIF’s case:
Gigaton potential: “Nearly all ocean CDR solutions have the potential to reach gigaton scale.”
High efficiency: Ocean methods can be more efficient in cost, energy, material, and land use compared to some non-ocean CDRs.
High compatibility: “Most ocean-based solutions do not compete with other uses for scarce land, such as agriculture, and are typically compatible with other ocean uses, such as fisheries.”
These strengths are exactly what we bank on in designing scalable, low-footprint OIF interventions.
4. Risk & Uncertainty: The Caution That Reinforces Our Approach
McKinsey is careful to state that “the ocean’s scale also creates complexity” and that many ocean CDR methods are still at an early stage. They warn of “unforeseen risks due to uncertain causal pathways” and emphasize that “fundamental scientific questions must be answered, new regulatory frameworks need to be established.”
That caution aligns precisely with how we position our work: rigorous, phased deployment, transparent monitoring, and governance‑first design. The fact that a leading consultancy calls out these same risks gives credence to our cautious, science-based stance.
5. Urgency & Timing = Strategic Window
McKinsey warns that unless multiple stakeholders take action today, prohibitive costs and false starts could derail one of the largest-ever climate restoration opportunities.
They also argue for the establishment of a foundational ocean CDR ecosystem over the next decade. That sense of urgency dovetails with our roadmap: early field trials, MRV innovation, regulatory engagement, and stakeholder alignment—all ahead of full-scale deployment.
6. How This Supports Our OIF Strategy
Bringing it all together, here’s how the McKinsey report substantiates our OIF narrative:
It confirms that ocean-based removal is seen as strategically essential, not experimental.
It situates OIF alongside other viable biotic approaches, giving it broader legitimacy.
It reinforces the advantages we emphasize: scale, efficiency, non-competition, and co-benefits.
It underscores the critical need for risk-aware, science-led development, which is baked into our methodology.
It presses the urgency of acting now while the research window is open — a window we intend to seize.
Final Thought
In short: McKinsey doesn’t merely tolerate OIF — it frames ocean-based carbon removal as a vital, plausible pillar of the climate solution mix.
That bolsters our messaging, strengthens our credibility with funders and partners, and sharpens our strategic priorities.
Support The Grandparents Fund for Climate Restoration through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)
The Climate Restoration movement is a global effort to restore a safe and healthy climate for future generations. It brings together scientists, innovators, philanthropists, and communities to implement large-scale solutions that remove greenhouse gases, restore ecosystems, and build a flourishing future for humanity.
At the heart of this effort is The Grandparents Fund for Climate Restoration (GCRF) — a registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN: 93-2872908) dedicated to funding and accelerating projects that make climate restoration possible.
If you’re 70½ or older, you can donate up to $100,000 each year directly from your IRA to a qualified charity — without paying income tax on the distribution.
This giving option, known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), allows your gift to go further by reducing your taxable income while supporting causes you care about — like restoring a safe and livable climate for future generations.
Making a QCD to GCRF is a powerful and tax-efficient way to create impact today — and leave a legacy for generations to come.
Important: GCRF does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax or financial advisor to determine how a Qualified Charitable Distribution may apply to your individual situation.
If you have any questions or would like to make a QCD gift to GCRF, please contact us at donate@climaterestorationalliance.org or through our contact page.
Together, we can help restore the climate — one meaningful gift at a time.
The Grandparents Fund for Climate Restoration (GCRF) is proud to announce the successful Phase 1 completion and transfer of the Ocean Iron Fertilization (OIF) Buoy Project, an innovative ocean-based CO measurement initiative, to DeepGreen Solutions. Based on this agreement, DeepGreen Solutions will assume full responsibility for advancing the project and scaling its impact.
Launched by GCRF in 2024, the buoy project represents a breakthrough in the effort to measure and verify ocean-based carbon removal. Deployed off the California coast, the buoys demonstrated the collection of critical real-world data on CO, absorption, forming a foundational step toward scalable, science-based ocean climate solutions.
This milestone marks one of the first steps in scaling up the Climate Restoration Industry, which is a fast-emerging sector focused on restoring atmospheric CO2 levels to pre-industrial concentrations (300 ppm) through large-scale carbon removal. The Climate Restoration Industry brings together science, innovation, funding, and global coordination to implement solutions at the scale required to secure a livable planet.
Ocean Iron Fertilization (OIF) is the most promising pathway to climate restoration due to its potential to remove tens of gigatons of CO2 annually. By enhancing natural phytoplankton growth in targeted ocean regions, OIF accelerates carbon capture and sequestration in the deep ocean.
By handing over responsibility for the specific implementation of OIF to DeepGreen, GCRF will now be able to focus more fully on the big picture-scaling up the industry as a whole and creating the enabling conditions that will allow OlF and other climate solutions to scale quickly and safely.
This big-picture focus includes the introduction and scale-up of additional Climate Restoration pathways such as seaweed cultivation, bamboo reforestation, and biochar production, with a growing emphasis on building resilience within frontline communities. It also encompasses the
development of the for-profit segment of the Climate Restoration movement, to be led by the Climate Restoration Venture Studio (in formation). If you are interested in investing in climate restoration, contact GCRF CEO, llan Mandel at ilan@climaterestorationalliance.org or +1-310-400-0265.
The Climate Restoration Alliance (CRA) and GCRF will continue to actively develop, support, and fund complementary projects and technologies to advance the OlF industry as a critical segment of the broader climate restoration movement. GCRF remains committed to this effort and is currently fundraising to support future OlF development phases, including expanded monitoring, safety protocols, pilot projects, ocean health monitoring and, and international
collaborations.
Thanh Huynh, CEO of DeepGreen Solutions, said: “We’re honored to continue this work. DeepGreen is fully committed to scaling Ocean Iron Fertilization as a viable and ethical solution to the climate crisis. This work accelerates our shared mission, and we deeply appreciate the vision, dedication, and foundational work of GCRF and its donors, whose contributions have made this transition—and the next chapter—possible.”
In recognition of the progress made, GCRF expresses deep gratitude to its volunteers and donors who made the buoy project possible. Their dedication brought a bold idea to life and helped shift the global conversation toward measurable ocean-based carbon removal.
Ilan Mandel, CEO of GCRF, concluded: “This collaboration shows what’s possible when vision, science, and community come together. We’re proud to pass the torch and remain closely engaged in the journey ahead. With this transition, GCRF can now expand its focus to fund additional projects and programs that collectively restore the climate.”
About the Grandparents Fund for Climate Restoration (GCRF)
GCRF, the philanthropic arm of the Climate Restoration Alliance, is a 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to restoring a safe and healthy climate by supporting scientifically grounded, scalable carbon removal projects. Rooted in intergenerational responsibility, GCRF mobilizes philanthropic capital to accelerate breakthrough solutions.
About the Climate Restoration Alliance (CRA)
CRA is building the Climate Restoration Industry to return atmospheric CO2 to pre-industrial levels by 2050. It connects funders, scientists, and implementers to rapidly scale proven carbon removal solutions.
About DeepGreen Solutions
DeepGreen Solutions is a nonprofit organization committed to restoring pre-industrial CO, levels by mid-century. It leads science-driven efforts to scale ocean-based carbon removal through ocean iron fertilization and other nature-aligned technologies.
Bamboo, Biodiversity, and the Monoculture Question: Why Our Project in Togo Is Different
Bamboo has earned a reputation as one of the most sustainable plants on Earth. Its rapid growth, ability to regenerate after harvesting, and potential to restore degraded land make it a powerful tool for climate restoration and rural development. Yet, some articles and commentators raise concerns about the risks of bamboo monoculture—large-scale cultivation of a single species.
While these concerns may be valid in certain contexts, they do not apply to our project in Togo. Here’s why.
Not Forest Clearing – But Land Restoration
Bamboo plantations in Asia have sometimes been criticized for replacing natural forests. That is not the case in Togo. Our planting sites are not forests at all—they are former agricultural lands, often partially cultivated or simply unused due to the limited capacity of local communities to farm them effectively. By introducing bamboo, we are not destroying ecosystems; we are bringing underutilized land back into productive use in a sustainable way.
Natural Soil Enrichment
One of bamboo’s unique features is its constant cycle of leaf fall. These fallen leaves naturally enrich the soil with organic matter and nutrients, rebuilding fertility over time. In addition, we will produce **biochar** from bamboo residues and organic waste, which will be added back into the soil to further increase fertility, improve water retention, and store carbon for the long term. Rather than depleting the soil, bamboo cultivation improves it—creating the foundation for healthier ecosystems in the long run.
No Pesticides Needed
Unlike many monoculture crops, bamboo does not require chemical pesticides. It is naturally resilient, and our cultivation methods ensure that we grow bamboo without harmful inputs. This aligns with our commitment to sustainable, chemical-free agriculture.
Preserving Large Trees and Biodiversity
Within our bamboo plots, we are committed to preserving mature trees. These trees provide habitats for birds and other wildlife, helping to maintain biodiversity within and around the plantations. Bamboo does not prevent coexistence with trees—in fact, it complements them.
Weed Suppression Through Canopy, Not Chemicals
Another ecological benefit of bamboo is its ability to suppress weeds naturally. This does not come from its root structure, but from the dense shade its canopy provides, which limits sunlight reaching the ground. As a result, weeds struggle to grow, reducing the need for herbicides.
Food Production in Early Years
During the first two to three years, while bamboo plants are still small, local farmers will be able to grow food crops among the young shoots. This provides immediate food security and income until the bamboo matures.
Agroforestry and Intercropping
Our program includes agroforestry and intercropping practices. In the first two to three years, while bamboo plants are still small, local farmers will be able to grow food crops such as vegetables among the young shoots. Once the bamboo matures, intercropping will continue mainly with large trees (such as fruit or shade trees) alongside the bamboo. This phased approach reduces pest risks, diversifies farmer income, and preserves biodiversity over the long term.
Responsible Land Management
We will apply biochar from organic bamboo residues to the soil, returning carbon and organic matter, supporting microorganisms, and preventing soil degradation.
Biodiversity Corridors
We will establish green buffer zones with native vegetation, allowing beneficial insects, birds, and wildlife to thrive alongside bamboo plantations.
Long-Term Vision
The Togo project sees bamboo not as a monoculture, but as the economic and ecological backbone of a diverse system: renewable energy, panel and furniture products, local agriculture, and water solutions.
A Responsible Model for Africa
Our approach in Togo shows that bamboo monoculture does not have to mean ecological harm. With careful land selection, soil-enriching practices, zero pesticide use, preservation of existing trees, production of biochar, interim food production, intercropping, and biodiversity corridors, bamboo cultivation can be a force for regeneration rather than degradation.
Bamboo has the potential to transform underutilized landscapes, provide livelihoods, and contribute to climate restoration. Fundamentally, our project is designed as a solution for climate restoration and ecosystem recovery, with economic benefits considered a secondary priority. Maximizing economic gains is important, but our guiding principle is to place ecological and climate goals first.
But as with any crop, the outcome depends on how it is grown. Our project in Togo is designed not just to avoid the mistakes made elsewhere, but to set a new global standard for responsible bamboo cultivation.
Togo’s people, land, and ecosystems are under urgent and mounting pressure from climate extremes and environmental decline. More than half the population lives in rural areas, and nearly one in three depends on rain-fed farming.
Breaking Rhythms of Rain and Soil Fertility
Survival is tied to the rhythms of rain and soil fertility, yet those rhythms are breaking down at a visible pace. Since 1991, average surface temperatures have risen by up to 0.34°C per decade. In the northern savannahs, projections show a 1.4°C increase by the 2040s.
Rising Floods, Droughts, and Food Insecurity
Floods and droughts now dictate the planting calendar. At least fifteen major floods have struck since 1971, while dry spells wipe out harvests before the next rains arrive. In 2023 alone, half a million people, a staggering 8% of the country, fell into severe food insecurity. For rural households, that number often rises above one-third when climate shocks hit. Women carry the biggest burden, owning less than 10% of land while performing five times more unpaid labor than men.
Land and Ecosystem Degradation
The land is crumbling beneath them. Forests vanish at nearly 3% each year, leaving less than a quarter of the country forested. Fertile topsoil is stripped away by wind and water. In the Plateaux and Kara regions, nutrients are so depleted that crop yields collapse even with increased fertilizer. Coastal villages along Togo’s 56 kilometers of shoreline are watching the ocean take their homes and fields, and economists warn that sea-level rise could shrink national income by 12% per capita by mid-century. Less than a tenth of farmland is irrigated, leaving over 70% of smallholders entirely at the mercy of erratic rainfall. These pressures are unraveling the local ecosystems, undermining livelihoods, and pushing underserved communities to the edge.
Introducing the Togo Bamboo Project
At The Grandparents Fund for Climate Restoration, we have developed a large and ambitious Togo Bamboo Project to change that story. Bamboo grows fast, sends roots deep into the soil, restores water balance, and reduces erosion. It captures up to 50 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare each year in the right conditions, outperforming most tree species. Studies in comparable ecosystems show that highland bamboo can store more than 52 megagrams of carbon per hectare in dry biomass, which is a clear demonstration of its potential as a carbon sink. Unlike trees that require decades before harvest, bamboo renews itself year after year, creating a steady income without clearing land.
Furthermore, it restores ecosystems while supporting new rural economies built on construction materials, weaving, biochar, renewable energy, durable furniture, and verified carbon credits.
Our project will establish Togo’s largest bamboo restoration zones, with over 10,000 hectares to be restored with the full participation of communities and civil society partners. Furthermore, we will empower local cooperatives and farmers to manage planting and harvesting, while we will empower women and young people with extensive training, leadership, and local governance. The project will also develop market value chains that allow households to earn a living from bamboo products while feeding verified carbon credits into global markets. The generated finance will flow directly back into land stewardship and community development.
Step-by-Step Implementation Plan
We have a clearly outlined step-by-step project plan. In the first phase, we will obtain land access validation and security across over 12 municipalities in the Savanes region, covering 10,000 hectares of degraded and underutilized land. This process is already in progress, beginning with a successful scoping visit in August 2025 (see this official news article and the official media report from Togo below).
Phase One: Land Access and Feasibility Studies
During this visit, we kicked it off with community consultations, started our feasibility study, and conducted initial environmental and operational assessments to protect ecological health and gain social support.
Nurseries, Planting, and Infrastructure Development
We will establish nurseries in the first year of the project to propagate millions of bamboo seedlings, while trained local propagation teams will carry out planting and maintenance. Infrastructure development will include access roads, water harvesting and irrigation systems, and processing units for biochar and bamboo products. We will begin the carbon credit certification in parallel, with international MRV standards applied to track sequestration.
Carbon Credit Certification, MRV Systems & SPS-compliant
In later phases, value-addition facilities will support renewable energy generation, biochar production, and the creation of SPS-compliant (SPS = Sanitary and Phytosanitary) bamboo-based materials and furniture for local and export markets. These steps will create thousands of jobs, build small businesses, and provide direct training to farmers, especially women and young people, in sustainable cultivation and governance.
Economic Potential and Revenue Streams
The economic potential is equally compelling. Conservative estimates suggest the project could earn over $100 million annually from four main revenue sources: bamboo biomass & products, biochar, renewable energy, and high-value carbon credits. The environmental impact will be transformative.
Environmental Impact and Climate Benefits
Over its lifespan, the project will sequester millions of tons of CO₂, restore biodiversity across degraded savannah ecosystems, and re-establish natural water cycles.
Circular Economy and Biochar Solutions
The introduction of biochar into the soil will improve fertility, reduce water demand by up to 50%, and maximize climate resilience. A circular economy model ensures that bamboo byproducts are converted into renewable electricity and soil-improving biochar, eliminating waste and multiplying climate benefits.
Replicability and Technology Transfer
Our bamboo project is both replicable and highly scalable. We plan to implement advanced Israeli AgTech solutions for irrigation, soil monitoring, and precision farming to bring “BambooTech” to Africa. This technology transfer will ensure that the knowledge, tools, and innovations created in Togo can be adapted and duplicated in other African countries experiencing similar degradation issues.
Alignment with Togo’s Climate Commitments
This project is fully aligned with Togo’s climate commitments. The government has pledged to restore 43,000 hectares by 2025 and to plant one billion trees by 2030, yet lacks the capacity and investment to achieve these targets. The Togo Bamboo Project will help deliver these goals with scalable, cost-effective solutions.
Immediate and Long-Term Results
The results will be felt immediately and build over time. Restored land will stabilize food production, reduce disaster risks from floods and erosion, and increase water availability for farming. Households will gain new income streams from bamboo-based businesses, easing dependence on subsistence agriculture.
Empowering Women and Young People
Women and young people will be empowered to gain access to land, training, and leadership roles, shifting local power structures toward greater equity. Share of the profits will be shared with local communities and reinvested to accelerate impact.
Toward a New Climate Economy for Africa
The Togo Bamboo Project unites ecological restoration, climate-smart agriculture, carbon sequestration, and inclusive sustainable rural development. It is a project that can scale at pace, and can offer Togo a pathway out of vulnerability and into resilience, while building a model for how degraded and underutilized land across Africa can become the backbone of a new climate economy.
Everyone wants to restore a safe climate — one that humans have actually survived long-term. In this “pre-industrial” climate, which allowed us to develop agriculture and thriving civilizations, atmospheric CO2 never rose above 300 parts per million (ppm). Today, CO2 levels are 420 ppm. Yet now we know how to bring CO2 back down to pre-industrial levels—and could do so by 2050.
Ocean iron fertilization (OIF) appears to be the fastest, safest and most effective climate restoration solution although it was controversial for a time. OIF restores fisheries and other marine life while also reducing CO2 levels at the scale needed to restore the climate. It requires little or no public funding: instead, the process produces revenue … Read More "Kenneth Omondi Ochieng Kones"
Restoring the climate requires removing and storing a trillion tons of legacy CO2 by 2050. Nature has stored 99 percent of all the CO2 on earth in the form of limestone, made of calcium and CO2 by shellfish and other marine organisms.1 Nearly half carbon dioxide by weight, limestone is an ideal, permanent storage system for this greenhouse gas.
Restoring our climate will require pulling a trillion tons of legacy carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2050. Farming seaweed, mainly fast-growing kelp and sargassum, can help achieve climate restoration. Click to download the PDF.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that causes about 1/3 of today’s global warming. Using Enhanced Atmospheric Methane Oxidation (EAMO), we can accelerate these processes and reduce atmospheric methane to pre-industrial levels. This could rewind warming back to 2002 levels by 2050 and protect humanity from catastrophic levels of melting permafrost. Click here to download … Read More "Kenneth Omondi Ochieng Kones"
More and more people are realizing: Even if we reach net zero by 2050, or stay “well under” 2°C of warming, our survival will still be in serious doubt. That’s because there are already a trillion tons of CO2 in the atmosphere. This “legacy” CO2, emitted over the last 200 years, will continue to wreak havoc in our world—whether or not we decrease future emissions to near-zero.
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