Kenya's bid to grow 15 billion trees by 2032 has received a major boost following the completion of a model nursery that can hold 1.3 million seedlings in Loitoktok, Kajiado county.
On Monday, stakeholders in the forestry sector inspected the nursery, which has a bi-annual production of 650,000 seedlings.
It has been funded by the World Wide Fund for Nature- Kenya (WWF-Kenya) at a cost of Sh16 million.
Other organisations that supported the project include International Climate Initiative through the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection.
The nursery is equipped with a solar-powered borehole to ensure year-round seedling production.
During a site visit at Loitoktok Forest Station, WWF-Kenya CEO Mohamed Awer urged local leaders to actively support forest restoration efforts.
“The capacity of the nursery also points to the diversity of the tree seedlings it holds, which is a mix of indigenous and exotic seedlings that can even be planted on our farms to meet the needs of communities,” Awer said.
Besides the nursery boosting government's efforts to grow 15 billion trees by 2032, it will also support Kajiado's annual goal of producing 4.7 million tree seedlings and growing 62.3 million trees.
The move seeks to explore the significance of well-equipped tree nurseries in the broader context of restoring forest ecosystems in the country.
Kenya Forest Service deputy chief conservator Dr Clement Ngoriareng said the agency is playing a big role in supporting the government’s 30 per cent tree cover target.
“Every county has its target. We reached out to many partners who have responded very well. We are adopting a forest model to encourage the restoration efforts across the country," he said.
"WWF-Kenya has come strongly in supporting the initiative across the country in Kwale, North Rift and Nyandarua. This is among the seven model tree nurseries in the country.”
Ngoriareng represented Chief Conservator of Forest Alex Lemarkoko.
Head of conservation programmes at WWF-Kenya Jackson Kiplagat said the nursery will provide sufficient seedlings within the region.
“Apart from this, we also have facilities in this nursery that include the solar-powered borehole. We also have an office that is set to be handed over to KFS as part of operational efficiency of KFS,” he said.
Kiplagat said the programme is part of forest landscape restoration initiative.
“This initiative has an ambition to restore about 5,000 hectares directly through rehabilitation and about 20,000 hectares through other forms of restoration which goes beyond tree planting into the other grassland within this landscape,” he said.
Kiplagat said a sustainable natural environment calls for the restoration of both forest and grassland.
He said some of the seeds will be sold but they will find a modality between Community Forest Associations, KFS and WWF-Kenya to sustain production of seedlings.
Kiplagat said the irrigation system that is solar-powered ensures that seedlings are produced continuously.
He said the Loitoktok Community Forest Association has been instrumental in the development of the nursery.
Beekeeper Emily Naiserian said her women's group works with various institutions such as KFS and WWF-Kenya.
They have been keeping bees for two years.
Loitoktok CFA chairperson Emmanuel Mayani said the project has uplifted the lives of members.
He said the expansion of the nursery has helped create jobs.
“We have over 1,500 members and 18 user groups and women who earn their livelihood here,” Mayani said.
Mayani said the model nursery will help bolster efforts to grow 1.6 million trees they plan to plant during the rainy season.
