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Tree Growing Activities Boost Forest Restoration Across Kenya
Between 9th and 17th December 2025, tree growing and planting activities were conducted across the Eastern, North Eastern, and Coast Conservancies in support of Kenya's forest restoration agenda and the 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme. The activities took place in Meru, Machakos, Kitui, Embu, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi, Garissa, Kilifi, and Lamu counties, focusing on restoring degraded landscapes, promoting agroforestry, and strengthening climate resilience.
In the Eastern Conservancy, planting activities were carried out in forest stations, government institutions, schools, churches, farms, and community lands. Key interventions included compound planting at government residences, establishment of woodlots and boundaries, riverline and roadside rehabilitation, agroforestry promotion, fruit orchard establishment, and enrichment planting in forest blocks. Indigenous, exotic, and fruit tree species such as Croton megalocarpus, Markhamia lutea, Grevillea robusta, Syzygium species, Olea africana, Acacia species, mango, and avocado were planted through coordinated efforts led by the Kenya Forest Service in collaboration with county governments, Community Forest Associations, National Government Administrative Officers, development partners, farmers, and local communities.
In the North Eastern Conservancy, focused tree planting activities were undertaken in Garissa County at Tetu Secondary School farm and Garissa University Memorial Park. The initiatives emphasized rehabilitation of degraded land and commemorative tree planting, with indigenous species including Neem, Tropical Almond, Sycamore Fig, and Sausage Tree planted through partnerships involving the Kenya Forest Service, Tourism Fund officials, school management, university leadership, and county forest officers.
Along the Coast Conservancy, large-scale mangrove restoration and enrichment planting were implemented in Kilifi and Lamu counties. At the Sabaki River Estuary in Kilifi County, mangrove species such as Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, and Ceriops tagal were planted to rehabilitate degraded estuarine ecosystems. In Lamu West Sub-County, enrichment and new planting of Ceriops tagal propagules were carried out at Mawambwe and Kijuni sites through partnerships involving the Kenya Forest Service, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Community Forest Associations, county governments, and local communities.
Tree growing activities have made a meaningful contribution to increasing forest cover, restoring degraded ecosystems, enhancing community livelihoods, and strengthening climate change mitigation efforts. The initiatives reaffirm Kenya’s commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development under the 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme.
