- The launch of the 15 billion campaign christened ‘Mission 15B#JazaMiti’ is expected to run concurrently in the 47 counties.
- The launch of the initiative in Ngong Hill Forest, Kajiado county has coincided with Ruto’s 56th birthday.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto is set to lead the nation in a tree planting initiative aimed at increasing Kenya’s cover, to combat the impacts of climate change.
The launch of the initiative in Ngong Hill Forest, Kajiado county has coincided with Ruto’s 56th birthday.
Seemingly 56 trees will be planted to commemorate his birthday.
The launch of the 15 billion campaign christened ‘Mission 15B#JazaMiti’ is expected to run concurrently in the 47 counties.
DP Rigathi Gachagua, first lady Rachel Ruto, Kajiado Governor Joseph Lenku and Environment CS Soipan Tuya will be present.
Results generated from the recent National Forest Resources Assessment 2021 indicate that Kenya has 17,742,168.02 acres of tree cover, representing 12.13 per cent of the total area.
From the assessment, up to 37 counties out of the 47 (79 per cent) have a tree cover percentage greater than the constitutional set target of 10 per cent tree cover.
Image: PCS
In addition, results reveal that the country has a tree cover per capita index of 1,507.48m2 per person.
The findings indicate that the country has 12,914,201.16 acres of national forest cover, which represents 8.83 per cent of the total area.
The state however wants the national tree cover enhanced to 30 per cent by 2032, a move that will see 15 billion trees planted.
To achieve this feat, some Sh500 billion is needed.
The move seeks to restore 10.6 million hectares of the degraded landscape for improved biodiversity and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Kenya’s economy heavily depends on natural ecosystems such as forests, rangelands, wetlands and agro-ecosystems, which provide services and livelihoods to the communities.
Climate-induced deforestation and rangeland degradation remain major drivers of biodiversity-related complexities that call for concerted efforts.
Forests regulate ecosystems, protect biodiversity, play an integral part in the carbon cycle, support livelihoods and help drive sustainable growth.
Kenya’s forest cover was 6.99 per cent in 2010, according to a comprehensive National Forest Resources Assessment and Mapping report by the service.
The Kenya Forest Service has however, been helping the country to improve the cover.
Recently, the cover was 7.2 per cent before the state sought to enhance it to 10 per cent by 2022.
To achieve the target, KFS needed Sh48 billion. Under the strategy, Kenya was to plant 1.8 billion tree seedlings.
There are five forest types in the country. The Western rainforest (mixed indigenous) are found in Kakamega and Nandi.
It covers 357,350.8957 acres — about 3.5 per cent of the total forest area.
This figure is based on the forest cover mapping of 2013 using 2010 satellite imageries.
The Montane forests natural forest (mixed indigenous), which include Mt Kenya, Aberdares, Mau, Cherangany, Mt Elgon, Matthews Ranges and Chyulu Hills covers 3,360,282.05 acres, making 32.9 per cent of the total forest area.
The Coastal forest natural forest (mixed indigenous trees) are found in Arabuko Sokoke, Dakatcha, Boni, Shimba Hills, Kayas covering 731,112.03 acres, at 7.2 per cent of the total forest cover.
Dryland forests natural forest (mixed indigenous trees) found in Hilltops in Eastern and Northern Kenya and Lake Victoria regions cover 4,633,999.60 acres, making 45.4 per cent of the total forest cover.
Forest plantations both in public and private forests cover 461,384.5718 acres making 4.5 per cent of the total forest cover.