KEPSA Environment, Water and Natural Resources Sector Board led by the Chair Ms. Emily Waita on 5^th April 2023, engaged with the Principal Secretary of Forestry, Mr. Ephantus Kimotho at the Ministry Offices. The meeting focused on enhancing partnerships on the National Greening and Forestry Landscape Restoration Initiative towards the 30% tree cover target and on the REDD+ Strategy and Climate Change Nesting.

During the meeting, the Principal Secretary Mr Kimotho commended KEPSA for their coordinated public private engagement and partnership with the Ministry. He expounded on the expanded mandate of the Forest and Conservation Directorate that now includes agroforestry. In particular the focus was the National Strategy for 30% Tree Cover by 2032 which targets to plant and grow 15 billion.  The report released in 2022 indicates that Kenya is still a low forest cover country with 8.83% forest cover and 12.3% tree cover respectively. Forests and Rangelands restoration important for climate and environmental stability, economic development, social and livelihood support systems.

In responding to the   Global call for action to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation as a nature-based solution to the triple planetary crisis. Kenya has a strategic national initiative that targets to achieve   30% tree cover by the year 2032. There diverse approaches include and restoring 10.6ha, restoration of degraded lands, mobilization of private land owners and users to participate in the campaign, the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands will cover about 65%, and commercial forestry including bamboo to take up 35%along with the Ministry's exploration of benefit sharing opportunities and incentives for private sector involvement in restoration efforts.  

He also updated on plans to involve over 20,000 schools in the country in achieving the 15 billion trees target by 2032, with efforts such as "Adopt a Forest," "Adopt a School," and establishment of tree nurseries by youth groups. He further mentioned that the Ministry is also working on categorizing and mapping dry lands and farmlands to employ effective strategies for restoration effort across the country.  The Ngong Forest is now segmented into blocks of 10 ha and 20 ha respectively. The average cost of restoring one hectare is Kes 225,000 for three years. KEFRI already has 2 billion seedlings. He called upon private sector to adopt the Ngong Forest blocs. Click Here to download the Ngong Forest Map. 

The KEPSA Environment, Water and Natural Resource’s Chairperson, Ms. Emily Waita, Vice Chairman Dr. John Wandaka, highlighted on contribution of private sector in development of the REDD+ strategy, the social safeguards and information systems, the ongoing development of natural resource benefit sharing mechanism for REDD+ and the jurisdictional framework for carbon trading.

The Head of Forest Conservation Directorate, Mr. Alfred Gichu, highlighted that the collaborative and partnership between the private sector and the directorate had contributed to progressive policy instruments and that there is need to forge a closer working relationship. The sector board members expounded on the key milestones, opportunities and the drawbacks of the tree growing fund and planting initiatives commercial forestry and need for regular communication for sustained campaign.  The sector board members offered to partner with the government in different ways including through offering seedlings, offering technical support, taking up the mapped blocks for’ adopt a forest, ’across the country.  

It is also important to address the drivers of forest degradation by providing sustainable alternatives even as the trees are planted and grown. The meeting resolved to have regular meetings, and to form a technical team to drive the action points agreed upon as well as organize a joint workshop on commercial forestry.