KEPSA attended the COP27 Presidential High-Level Side Event on 'Accelerating Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Implementation through Forestry and Range Land Restoration,' hosted by H.E. Dr William Samoei Ruto, CGH – President of the Republic of Kenya on the 7^th November 2022 in Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt. KEPSA team was led by Ms Emily Waita – Chair, KEPSA Environment, Water and Natural Resources Sector Board.

President Ruto noted that Kenya's forest sector contributes about 3.6% to the GDP and has been identified as the sector with the highest potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by Kenya's updated NDC. Despite its Contribution to the economy and mitigation of climate change, Kenya's forest cover is 8.83%, which is still below the minimum global requirement of 10%.

The President unveiled Kenya's Special Program to accelerate the achievement of 30% tree cover by 2032 through an ambitious forestry and range land restoration initiative. Special Program significantly supports Kenya's commitments under the Glasgow Declaration on Forestry and Land Use and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, and it doubles Kenya's prior commitment to restore 5.1 million Hectares under the Africa Forest and Land Scape Restoration (AFR 100). The President set a lofty goal to reach 30% of National Tree Cover by the year 2032, and to that end, he initiated an ambitious initiative to restore forests and rangelands.

Speaking during the event, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forestry Hon. Rosalinda Tuya appreciated the private sector, civil society, and youth contribution to the National Greening Campaign. KEPSA mobilized private sector Commitment to the National Tree Growing Campaign through the Contribution of Tree Seedlings, financial and other in-kind contributions from 46 companies valued at Ksh. 6,499,115,000. The Cabinet Secretary recognized the importance of non-state actors and development partners as allies in the Initiative.

The high-level event also offered a venue for forging strategic alliances in support of Kenya's NDC implementation, particularly the goal of forestry and land restoration. The Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Dr Alfred Mutua; Kirinyaga County Governor H.E. Ann Waiguru; Principal Secretary for Environment and Forestry Dr Chris Kiptoo; Principal Secretary of Environment (nominee) Eng. Festus K. Ng'eno; Safaricom CEO Mr Peter Ndegwa; Other private sector leaders and development partners attended the side event.