GOVERNMENT MOVES TO UNLOCK PRIVATE FUNDING FOR FOREST RESTORATION AND GREEN GROWTH

Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi speaks during the Donor Round Table Breakfast Forum on Forestry Improvement in Nairobi.

By: Gladys Karuga

The Government has intensified efforts to attract private investors and development partners to support ambitious forest restoration programmes aimed at combating environmental degradation, strengthening climate resilience and creating sustainable economic opportunities for communities.

Speaking during a media roundtable breakfast forum on unlocking investment opportunities in Kenya's forestry sector, Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi said achieving the country's environmental goals will require stronger collaboration between the Government, county administrations, development partners, research institutions, local communities and the private sector.

He said the partnership-driven approach is central to the implementation of the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy (2023–2032), which seeks to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded land while supporting Kenya's target of attaining 30 per cent tree cover by 2032.

“The success of this restoration agenda cannot be achieved by government alone. It requires a whole-of-society approach founded on partnership, collaboration, innovation and shared responsibilities,” Mugambi said.

Mugambi noted that environmental restoration extends beyond conservation, describing it as a key driver of economic transformation capable of improving food security, creating employment, enhancing biodiversity and strengthening the resilience of communities affected by climate change.

He observed that Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), which make up nearly 89 per cent of the country's landmass, remain critical for livelihoods and biodiversity but continue to face serious threats from deforestation, land degradation, invasive species, desertification and prolonged drought.

The Principal Secretary said the Government is shifting from a restoration model led solely by the Kenya Forest Service to one that places communities at the centre of forest conservation and landscape restoration.

He pointed to the success of the community-led restoration programme in Kaptagat, saying the initiative has demonstrated that involving local residents in conservation helps protect forests while providing alternative sources of income. The model has already been replicated in other regions and will continue to be expanded nationwide.

Mugambi explained that poverty remains one of the major causes of forest destruction, adding that supporting communities through sustainable livelihood programmes is essential to reducing pressure on forest resources.

He called on development partners and investors to strengthen community-based conservation initiatives through support for institutions such as the Kenya Forestry Research Institute and the Kenya Forest Service, saying adequate financial, technical and institutional support will be critical to achieving long-term restoration goals.

The PS further announced that the Government has broadened its forestry agenda to include commercial agroforestry, with increased emphasis on fruit tree farming and commercial tree growing under the national 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme.

He said the initiative will not only improve household nutrition but also open up new income opportunities for farmers while contributing to environmental conservation.

Mugambi revealed that cocoa, avocado and palm oil have been identified as priority value chains capable of transforming the forestry sector into a major contributor to the country's economy.

He said Kenya plans to plant one billion cocoa trees, an initiative expected to generate significant income and create thousands of jobs, while expanded avocado production and increased local palm oil cultivation will help reduce reliance on imported cooking oil.

The Principal Secretary appealed to private investors and development partners to support the programme through investment, financing and the supply of quality seedlings needed to scale up production.

He also highlighted innovative community conservation initiatives such as the Kaptagat "cow hotel," where livestock are kept and fed collectively instead of grazing inside forests. According to Mugambi, the initiative has improved livestock productivity while reducing human pressure on protected forest ecosystems.

“Let us combine our resources, expertise, technologies and experiences to accelerate restoration efforts across the country. Let us turn the challenge of land degradation into an opportunity for environmental recovery, economic prosperity and climate resilience,” Mugambi said.

During the forum, Forest Development Secretary George K. Tarus unveiled four major investment proposals aimed at accelerating ecosystem restoration, expanding green enterprises and improving livelihoods in forest-dependent communities.

Among the flagship projects is a Sh3.5 billion Climate Resilience through Agroforestry and Green Value Chain Development Project, which seeks to establish 23 mega tree nurseries across 23 counties, facilitate the planting of 230 million agroforestry trees and strengthen tree-based enterprises.

Other proposed initiatives include restoring 15,000 hectares invaded by invasive prosopis species, rehabilitating 7,000 hectares of degraded mangrove forests across five coastal counties and restoring 38,675 hectares of degraded dryland landscapes in 14 ASAL counties through agroforestry, commercial forestry and strengthened community governance.

“These investment proposals will strengthen community-led forestry initiatives, expand green value chains and unlock sustainable income opportunities while enhancing climate resilience,” Tarus said.

Tarus said the projects are expected to create green jobs, promote climate resilience, strengthen community incomes and reduce pressure on natural forests by encouraging commercial tree growing and alternative green enterprises.

He further disclosed that Kenya's 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme has so far recorded approximately 1.795 billion trees planted or regenerated, bringing the country closer to its national tree cover target.

The meeting also received updates on preparations for World Bamboo Day and the National Bamboo Expo scheduled for September, events expected to showcase bamboo as a sustainable commercial forestry resource while supporting Kenya's green industrialisation agenda.

Mugambi urged all stakeholders to work together in restoring degraded landscapes, saying environmental conservation presents an opportunity to build a greener economy, create jobs and secure a more climate-resilient future for generations to come.