Doum Palm wine is a popular and natural local tipple, which is stronger than whiskey. Yet by harvesting this spirit (which the Kenya Government has declared a legal activity) the tree in its entirety will die, all for only 20 litres of alcohol.

In order to bleed the tree of its potent nectar, a skilled palm wine ‘Tapper’ scrambles to the very tips of the branches, without support, and cuts every branch of the tree, balancing on strategically placed poles in order to maneuver around each limb. Despite the expert and traditional tree climbing skills these Tappers have acquired, there have been an unlucky few that have fallen and died.

Plastic bottles are then secured over each opening on the branch to capture the liquid which will ooze out of the tree until it has nothing left to secret and the Tapper returns to collect their reward.
Although this is a traditional practice of the local tribes if it is done to excess it is not sustainable and the forests of the Lamu region will suffer.

The Lamu Conservation Trust is monitoring these activities and educating the local communities on the effects of palm wine tapping on the environment.