LOOP DFS has strengthened its commitment to environmental sustainability by planting 3,000 indigenous and adaptive trees at Flamingo Farm in Naivasha as part of its sport-driven conservation agenda.
The tree-planting exercise, held alongside the second leg of the LOOP Safari Gravel Series 2026, underscores the company’s strategy of integrating environmental stewardship into sporting events while leaving a lasting positive impact on host communities.
The initiative was conducted in partnership with Hell’s Gate National Park management, supporting ongoing efforts to restore ecosystems and enhance biodiversity within the Naivasha landscape.
Tree planting becomes a hallmark of the LOOP Safari Gravel Series
The exercise forms part of LOOP DFS’s broader sustainability programme, with tree planting now embedded as a signature feature of every edition of the LOOP Safari Gravel Series.
According to LOOP DFS Chief Executive Officer Eric Muriuki, the initiative reflects the company’s belief that sport can be a powerful platform for driving environmental action.
“Our tree-planting initiative within the Gravel Series reflects LOOP’s commitment to integrating sustainability into everything we do. By bringing together sport, community and environmental action through the LOOP Safari Gravel Series, we are not only creating memorable experiences but also taking deliberate steps to restore ecosystems and protect biodiversity,” said Muriuki.
More than 2,000 participants support the conservation effort
The second edition of the LOOP Gravel Series attracted more than 2,000 participants, including 850 cyclists, spectators, partners and members of the local community, demonstrating growing public support for combining sport with environmental conservation.
Organisers said the event provided an opportunity for participants to contribute directly to landscape restoration while promoting healthy lifestyles and community engagement.
Indigenous trees selected to restore local ecosystems
The conservation exercise saw the planting of seven indigenous and adaptive tree species across Flamingo Farm, including Odo, Olive, Neem, Croton, Acacia, Melia azedarach and Syzygium.
The selected species are well suited to the Naivasha ecosystem due to their resilience, ability to improve soil health and capacity to support local biodiversity.
As the trees mature, they are expected to provide habitats for birds, insects and other wildlife while contributing to ecosystem restoration, landscape rehabilitation and long-term climate resilience.
Partnership aims to strengthen biodiversity and climate action
A representative from Hell’s Gate welcomed the initiative, noting that collaborative conservation efforts are essential for protecting ecosystems that sustain both wildlife and surrounding communities.
The representative said planting indigenous and adaptive trees would strengthen biodiversity, improve climate resilience and support the long-term ecological health of the Naivasha environment.
Beyond restoring degraded landscapes, the initiative is also expected to contribute to carbon sequestration, helping mitigate the effects of climate change while reinforcing Kenya’s broader environmental conservation goals.
With sustainability now firmly embedded within the LOOP Safari Gravel Series, LOOP DFS says it will continue using sport as a catalyst for environmental restoration, community engagement and long-term conservation across the country.
