The government plans to boost the
capacity of more than 300 tree nurseries nationwide to produce at least 2 million
seedlings annually.
Touring forests in Nairobi on Wednesday, Environment CS Deborah Barasa said this would help in achieving the 15 Billion Tree Growing initiative.
“Currently we’ve surpassed the 1
billion mark, but we should be at 3 billion,” she said.
"We are calling on all stakeholders to ensure we achieve this target. It is achievable if everyone is working together."
The CS visited Ngong Hills Forest Station tree nursery and Nairobi Arboretum. She was accompanied by KFS board chairman Titus Korir and chief conservator of forests Alex Lemarkoko.
She announced plans to establish 17 mega nurseries that will produce 25 million seedlings each.
These will complement seedlings
grown by communities, organisations and individuals in a nationwide effort
championed by President William Ruto. More than 15,000 National Youth Service
members have also been enlisted to work in nurseries.
Barasa called on timber industry investors, including the Timber Manufacturers Association and sawmillers, to actively participate in the campaign.
They should adopt forest areas, support schools to grow trees and engage in ecosystem restoration, including mangrove areas along the coast, efforts she said will contribute to national landscape restoration.
She reassured stakeholders that harvesting of mature and overmature plantations remains regulated, with integrity observed in allocations.
Barasa said the National Landscape
Ecosystem Restoration Programme and monitoring tools, including the digital
Jazamiti app, will ensure visibility and accountability.
KFS board chairman Korir said timber industry investors are key revenue contributors.
CCF Lemarkoko encouraged sawmillers to establish tree nurseries for sustainable production. Only licensed sawmillers will have access to forest materials, he said.
He added that indigenous trees will be grown in catchment areas, while exotics
will be planted in designated plantation zones.
Lemarkoko said the 300 tree
nurseries will produce at least 2 million seedlings annually, while the 17 mega
nurseries will generate 425 million seedlings, bringing a total annual production
to 1.5 billion seedlings.
Representatives of the sawmillers,
led by national chairman John Kimani, requested supportive policies at the
county level to facilitate tree-growing initiatives. They pledged to
collaborate, uphold regulations and contribute to forest sustainability.
