Private nurseries are key in supporting Kenya’s 10% tree cover target

Over the years, Kenya’s tree cover has been on the decline at fairly drastic rates. To fight the increase in deforestation in the country, the National Forest Program’s cross-sectoral framework was formed calling for multi-stakeholder participation in achieving the constitutional target of 10% tree cover of the national land area.

Earlier this month, the government announced that we have since attained 7% but with the year coming to an end, we must become more tactical and aggressive to attain our target.

There have been a variety of tactics that have greatly contributed to our progress as a country. For one, the government has and continues to commit funds and resources towards tree planting and reafforestation. During the 2019/2020 financial year the government - through the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and its partners - procured, distributed as well as utilized polythene tubes in all ecosystems to raise a total of 70 million tree seedlings and refurbished 150 tree nurseries.

However, the call by the government to support reafforestation in Kenya created more demand for seedlings than what was available. According to the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), we have faced an acute shortage of good quality tree seedlings noting that a functional tree seed system starts with an effective seed policy framework.

Seed and plant varieties matter greatly to the sustenance of reafforestation. Plantation areas, natural forest areas, mangrove forest ecosystems and Arid and Semi-Arid lands thrive as a result of an ecosystem with specific species of trees and therefore it remains crucial to plant the right tree in the right environment.

According to the research institute, 75 per cent of Kenya’s tree growers source seeds from informal sources resulting in highly varied forest plantations. Use of inferior seeds is in fact counterproductive and contributes to the degradation of the quality of our forest products.

The private sector has pulled significant efforts in supporting the government’s directive by offering financial support as well as committing to supporting sustainability in the country overall. As we ramp up our efforts to increase Kenya’s tree cover, we must support KFS in developing seedling nurseries across the country that will serve as a supportive supply of quality seedlings and support the government seedling deficit within the county.

As part of our NCBA Change the Story program whose mission is to create a movement that awakens the consciousness of fellow Kenyans to plant and conserve trees we forge partnerships with key conservation organizations. We have a goal to generate one million indigenous tree seedlings and through our partnership with KFS, we have established one-million tree nursery in Karura Forest which has already generated ~80,000 seedlings for transplanting. Incrementally, our partnership with WWF has yielded 91,000 seedlings in four nurseries in Kieni county that will be ready for transplanting by end of 2022.

This World Environmental Day, I urge all of you to do your part in protecting the environment by amplifying the work of organizations that are seeking to close the gap of providing quality seedlings in our reforestation efforts.

We Only have One Earth, let’s take care of it!