•Results generated from the National Forest Resources Assessment 2021 indicate that Kenya has 7,180,000.66ha of tree cover, representing 12.13 per cent of the total area.
•The report was launched at the State House, Nairobi, by Uhuru on May 27.
•The findings indicate that the country has 5,226,191.79ha of national forest cover, representing 8.83 per cent of the total area.
Image: GEORGE MUGO
The government is exploring various initiatives as it seeks to mobilise resources to grow 15 billion trees in the next 10 years.
Forestry PS Ephantus Kimotho said the total budget for the 10-year bid is Sh600 billion.
“Yearly budget is approximately Sh60 billion,” he said.
Kimotho spoke at the Kenya Forest Service headquarters in Karura after unveiling eight Toyota Land Cruisers that will be used to secure forest resources in the country.
The vehicles were procured by the service through Green Zones Development Support Project Phase II, a forest conservation project funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Kenyan government.
AfDB contributed $50 million (about Sh5.5 billion), while the government provided $5 million (about Sh547 million).
It is a six-year project (2019-2025) which is implemented in 15 counties around Mt Kenya, Aberdares and Mau ecosystems.
The counties are Nakuru, Baringo, Kericho, Bomet, Kisii, Nyamira, Kiambu, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Meru and Machakos.
The goal of the project is to improve forest conservation and community livelihoods for sustainable forest management in Kenya.
Kimotho lauded the project, adding that a number of development partners are also willing to chip in and help the government attain the 15 billion trees.
The state plans to grow 15 billion trees in the next 10 years in a bid aimed at combating the effects of climate change.
Results generated from the National Forest Resources Assessment 2021 indicate that Kenya has 7,180,000.66ha of tree cover, representing 12.13 per cent of the total area.
The report was launched at State House, Nairobi, by Uhuru on May 27.
The findings indicate that the country has 5,226,191.79ha of national forest cover, representing 8.83 per cent of the total area.
Kimotho said the impacts of climate change, such as droughts and floods, can be combated by restoring degraded areas.
The PS said his ministry will be aggressive in putting up a case to get funding.
“So far, KFS has registered private tree nurseries to the tune of 34 million seedlings which are ready to be planted in this rainy season,” he said.
The PS said they have a target of raising 300 million seeds per year, meaning one million seedlings per KFS station.
He said the degraded land within the gazetted forest that needs to be rehabilitated is 350,000 hectares.
Kimotho said there are a number of opportunities available for funding, such as the Global Environmental Fund, where the ministry is the focal point.
“We have 21 million dollars available,” he said.
Kimotho said more rangers are being recruited to boost the available force of about 2,200.
He said currently, one ranger is taking care of 1,000 hectares as opposed to the internationally accepted standard of 400 hectares per ranger.
Kimotho said the welfare of the rangers will be catered to.
Acting Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko said KFS is ready to boost the state’s bid.
Lemarkoko said with the rains, the attention of the service now turns to tree-growing, as opposed to the fire-fighting that was witnessed in various forests.
Green Zones Development Support Project Phase II (GZDSPII) manager Jerome Mwanzia said 70 per cent of the fund goes to the tree growing while 30 per cent is directed to infrastructure.
Mwanzia said 18 million seeds have been raised in the last three years.
He said the seedlings have been used to rehabilitate 3,050 hectares.
Mwanzia said another 2,250 hectares have been restocked.
He said six million seeds will be planted this financial year while 1,400 hectares of indigenous trees will be rehabilitated.