• Kenya’s forest cover is 7.2 per cent, but the state wants it increased to 10 per cent by 2022, requiring two billion trees planted for Sh48 billion.
• Aerial seeding has been identified as a fast way of achieving forest cover.
Image: COURTESY
Nine tree species planted in Maasai Mau through aerial seeding have germinated.
They are among 15 species planted in 2019 after illegal settlers were expelled from the forest.
A study by the Kenya Forest Research Institute showed good germination by East African yellow wood (Podocarpus falcatus), broad-leafed croton for timber and medicinal use (Croton macrostachyus), cape chestnut with abundant flowers (Calodendrum capense).
Sudan teak (Cordia Africana), large-leafed cordia (Croton megalocarpus), forest dombeya (Dombeya torrida), Meru oak (Vitex keniensis), black ironwood (Olea capensis) and African cherry (Prunus Africana) also germinated.
Aerial seeding is a technique for direct broadcasting of seeds by drone, plane or a helicopter.
The technique is an alternative to ground-based seeding methods that include planting by hand or tractor seeding.
Kefri research and development senior deputy director Dr Jane Njuguna said germination by Hagenia abyssinica, Juniperus procera, Mkaesopsis eminii, Markhama lutea, Polyscias fulva, and Zathoxylum gilletii have not been recorded.
“Two species that were not seeded, Caris edulis and Syzygium guineense were recorded indicating the potential for regeneration,” she said.
Njuguna said tree species have different dormancy periods, some as long as 10 years.
“Some will stay until the dormancy is broken by certain factors,” she said, adding that the study was done in a small area beset by Covid-19.
Njuguna said another round of the study is scheduled in July and August.
She said grazing was observed in some areas and in such areas there were very few seedlings.
She said seedling germination revealed that seedling density was low relative to the estimated seeding rate.
“A mean of 570 ± 313 seedlings/2.47 acres was recorded suggesting that only 6.8 per cent of the seeds had germinated from the very small area assessed,” she said.
Njuguna said assuming uniform germination, the observed seedling density suggests the presence of a seedling for every five meters.
She said aerial seeding has been adopted by the government as one way of accelerating forest restoration and attaining 10 per cent forest cover.
Njuguna spoke on Thursday last week at Olesereni Hotel, Nairobi, during the National Conference on Forestry Innovations. The theme was 'Inspiring Innovation in Forestry to Accelerate Attainment of the Big Four Agenda.
Kenya’s current forest cover is 7.2 per cent, but the state wants it increased to 10 per cent by 2022, a move that will see two billion trees planted at a cost of Sh48 billion.
Aerial seeding has been identified as a cheap way of fast-tracking reforestation.
The Ministry of Environment approved the piloting of aerial seeding in 24,710.5 acres of degraded forestlands in Maasai Mau Forest (8,648.675 acres), Eburru Forest (1,235.525 acres), Aberdare Forest (6,177.625 acres) and Mt Kenya Forest (8,648.675 acres).
She said meeting the 10 per cent forest cover by 2022 by piloting aerial seeding of 24,710.5 acres in the key water towers of Mau, Eburu, Aberdares and Mt Kenya cost Sh39 million in aerial seeding as compared to Sh800 million in conventional tree planting.
Njuguna said government’s plan to restore 5.1 million hectares of degraded landscapes will see aerial seeding cost Sh19.8 billion while the conventional tree planting would cost Sh408 billion.
She said the rehabilitation of degraded mangrove areas covering 42,096.8 acres by 2027 through aerial seeding will cost Sh66.4 million while conventional seeking costs Sh1.36 billion.
“Therefore, aerial seeding is not only the quickest but also a cost-effective strategy of realising restoration targets of the 5.1 million hectares by 2030,” Njuguna said.
The piloting of aerial seeding was undertaken at Maasai Mau Forest in Narok covering 113,668.3 acres.
The water tower is an important catchment area as it forms the upper catchment of the Ewaso Ngiro and Mara rivers.
The land was highly degraded due to farming.
The optimum seeding rate expected per hectare was 7,500 seedlings.
Seeds were sorted into two categories: fluffy and non-fluffy seeds and for each category, seeds were mixed separately prior to loading into the aircraft.
(Edited by V. Graham)