Andrew Gichira is a Kenyan botanist and Research Manager at the Center for Ecosystem Restoration, where he leads the design and implementation of restoration research across diverse landscapes in Kenya. His work focuses on restoring degraded ecosystems and understanding how plant communities respond to environmental change. Dr. Gichira earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, following earlier degrees in botany and biotechnology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

His research centers on ecosystem restoration, with an emphasis on how biodiversity can be rebuilt in landscapes affected by human activity. By studying plant species, vegetation patterns and genetic diversity, he examines how ecosystems recover and how restoration efforts can be more effectively guided by science. His work contributes to applied restoration efforts in Kenya, helping to develop strategies that support biodiversity, improve ecosystem function and strengthen resilience across working landscapes. In the field, he conducts vegetation surveys across a range of environments, from lowland ecosystems to high-elevation mountain zones. Early in his career, field expeditions across the Eastern Afromontane region—including climbs of Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro—shaped his understanding of how altitude and climate influence plant communities and ecosystem structure. Through this work, Dr. Gichira is helping to advance restoration strategies that reconnect fragmented ecosystems and support long-term environmental sustainability in East Africa.