Recently, Kenya attained a 10% forest cover. According to Kenya Forest Services (KFS), that percentage was achieved after planting over 1.8 billion trees in a span of 3 years (2019-2022). A total of 48 billion Kenyan shillings was invested for this noble cause.

Despite the increase in tree cover, Kenya has lost 368 kilohectares of tree cover, which translates to 11% decrease of tree cover from 2001 and 2021.

The obvious reasons for the decline and slow rate of increase of forest cover have always been unregulated charcoal production, careless felling of indigenous tree species, overgrazing and increased human settlement. However, the above reasons may just be the tip of the iceberg; the real problem lies in how we practice tree planting and generally how we take care of the same trees after planting them.

Past studies on effects of deforestation on the environment indicate that if this trend continues, then there is going to be catastrophe in terms of environmental degradation, floods, droughts, thus negatively affecting hydrological cycles culminating to reduced overall food production.

In the Cabinet meeting on December 6, 2022, it was noted inter alia that:

‘As part of the long-term measures to address the devastating effects of climate change and desertification, Cabinet approved the National Tree Growing Restoration Campaign. The tree growing campaign targets to mobilise the nation in planting fifteen billion trees by the year 2030, translating to 30% national tree cover.

In discharge of the inter-generational duty to protect the environment and our heritage and splendour for the enduring benefit of the engagements presided will be marked by planting of a designated minimum number of trees under various categories of between 200 and 500 seedlings.’

To achieve the above aspiration, the Febwell Foundation is partnering with public and private sector entities in an aggressive tree planting campaign. We seek to complement the government led initiative to enhance tree cover to the 30% target by the year 2030 by:

• Ensuring revitalization of tree nurseries by establishing them in all schools across the country. This will leverage on the aspirations of the Basic Education Curriculum Framework to entrench in our children a culture of environmental conservation from the school to the home and the community around them;
• Clear the existing backlog and projected expansion through enrichment planting;
• Capacity building and empowering all stakeholders on tree planting initiatives;
• Engaging the private sector to contribute 10% of their CSR to tree growing;
• Identifying and mapping priority areas for tree planting;
• Engaging in research on ideal tree species for the varied climatic conditions across the country and for enrichment in our biodiversity; and
• Establishing digital tools to map and track the various tree planting initiatives across the country.