The World Wide Fund for Nature-Kenya (WWF-Kenya) and the State Department for Forestry have formalized a five-year strategic partnership to drive Kenya's 15 Billion Trees Initiative. This initiative aims to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscapes by 2032, as part of efforts to reverse environmental degradation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The partnership combines government coordination with WWF-Kenya's technical expertise and community-based conservation experience.
Principal Secretary for Forestry Gitonga Mugambi emphasized the need for collaboration between government, the private sector, communities, and non-state actors to achieve Kenya's restoration ambitions. The National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy (2023–2032) provides the framework for restoring forests, water towers, rangelands, wetlands, and other ecosystems. The government is using the JazaMiti platform to track tree-growing progress across all 47 counties, focusing on ensuring trees survive and reach maturity.
Under the agreement, WWF-Kenya will provide technical, advocacy, and communication support to the 15 Billion Trees Secretariat. The organization will work with public and private sector partners to replicate successful landscape restoration models in other priority areas. One such model is the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme, implemented since 2020 across 26,902 hectares in the Northern Mau ecosystem.
The Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme has restored over 2,700 hectares of forestland, with more than 1.8 million seedlings planted. The programme has also supported the construction of dams, providing clean water to about 15,000 farmers and creating 2,000 direct jobs. Additionally, 95 cross-breed heifers, beehives, and high-value cash crops have been provided to community farmers. WWF-Kenya CEO Jackson Kiplagat highlighted the importance of linking environmental restoration to household livelihoods.
WWF-Kenya's approach focuses on four pillars: household income, clean energy, access to clean water, and healthy landscapes. The organization aims to ensure communities benefit directly from conservation. WWF-Kenya will continue implementing its #KeepKenyaBreathing platform, launched in 2018 to mobilize citizens, schools, and corporates to participate in tree growing. Over 3.06 million seedlings grown by citizens and corporates have been mapped through the platform across at least 25 counties.
The partnership seeks to expand restoration beyond tree-planting campaigns towards long-term landscape management, community participation, and measurable tree survival. Both parties called for greater involvement of corporates, communities, and individual citizens. WWF-Kenya urged partners to move beyond one-off tree-planting exercises and support landscapes until restoration efforts are established. The organization has set a target of mobilizing public and private resources to grow one billion trees across its priority landscapes.
The collaboration between WWF-Kenya and the State Department for Forestry marks a significant step towards achieving Kenya's environmental restoration goals. By working together, the two entities aim to create a sustainable and environmentally conscious future for Kenya. The partnership is expected to have a positive impact on the environment, communities, and the economy, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable future for the country.
Key points
- WWF-Kenya and the State Department for Forestry have partnered to drive Kenya's 15 Billion Trees Initiative, aiming to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscapes by 2032.
- The partnership will focus on long-term landscape management, community participation, and measurable tree survival, moving beyond one-off tree-planting exercises.
- WWF-Kenya will provide technical, advocacy, and communication support to the 15 Billion Trees Secretariat, and work with public and private sector partners to replicate successful landscape restoration models.
