Kenya Gov — Trees & Forests Initiative

7%

Forest Cover

of Kenya's land area — target is 10% by 2030

15B

Trees Pledged

Kenya's national tree-planting commitment

5,000+

Plant Species

native plant species found in Kenyan forests

42%

Water from Forests

of Kenya's water resources originate in forests

Our Heritage

Kenya's Forest Legacy

Kenya's forests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. From the cloud forests of Mount Kenya to the coastal mangroves of Mombasa, these ancient ecosystems sustain millions of lives — human, animal, and plant alike.

The Mau Forest Complex, Kenya's largest indigenous forest, is the source of twelve major rivers including the Mara River, which sustains the world-famous Maasai Mara ecosystem. Yet decades of encroachment and illegal logging have reduced it to a fraction of its original extent.

Restoring and protecting Kenya's forests is not an environmental goal alone — it is an economic and humanitarian imperative for the nation and the continent.

Ecosystems

Kenya's Forest Types

Highland

Montane Forests

Mt. Kenya, Aberdares, Cherangany Hills

Savanna

Dry Woodlands

Acacia, Commiphora, dryland forests

Coastal

Mangroves & Lowlands

Arabuko-Sokoke, coastal mangrove belts

The Case for Trees

Why Trees Matter

Every tree planted is an investment in Kenya's future

💧

Water Security

Forests are Kenya's water towers. Tree roots anchor soil, regulate river flow, and recharge aquifers — securing clean water for agriculture, households, and wildlife.

🌡

Climate Regulation

Trees absorb CO₂ and release oxygen, moderate local temperatures, and increase rainfall through evapotranspiration — making them Kenya's most powerful natural climate tool.

🦏

Biodiversity

Kenya's forests are home to elephants, leopards, over 1,000 bird species, and thousands of unique plants. Forests are the infrastructure of life.

🌾

Food & Livelihoods

Over 3 million Kenyans depend directly on forests for their livelihoods — from honey and wild fruits to timber, charcoal, and medicinal plants.

🌊

Soil Protection

Tree cover prevents soil erosion, a leading cause of reduced agricultural productivity. Deforested hillsides lose topsoil to rain, silting rivers and degrading farmland.

🏗

Sustainable Economy

Eco-tourism, carbon credits, and sustainable forestry generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually for Kenya's economy when forests are managed wisely.

Government Action

National Initiatives

01

Reforestation

National Tree Growing Campaign

Kenya's commitment to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, with annual national tree-planting days engaging communities, schools, and businesses across all 47 counties.

02

Conservation

Mau Forest Restoration

The largest forest restoration programme in Kenya's history, targeting the rehabilitation of over 107,000 hectares of degraded Mau Forest land and the resettlement of illegal encroachers.

03

Community

Community Forest Associations

Empowering local communities to manage and benefit from adjacent forests through legally recognised associations, sustainable harvesting rights, and eco-tourism revenue sharing.

04

Education

Green Schools Programme

Every school in Kenya plants and maintains trees on its grounds, instilling environmental stewardship in the next generation from an early age.

05

Finance

Carbon Credit Framework

Kenya is developing a national framework to allow verified forest restoration projects to generate and trade carbon credits, attracting international climate finance into local communities.

Join the Movement

Get Involved

Every Kenyan — every person — can contribute to the restoration of our forests. The future of our water, our wildlife, and our children depends on the choices we make today.

🌳

Plant a Tree

Participate in national and county tree-planting drives. Register your seedlings on the national platform.

🚫

Stop Burning

Avoid charcoal from unmanaged forests. Support sustainable energy alternatives in your household.

📢

Advocate

Report illegal logging and forest encroachment to the Kenya Forest Service: 0800 723 223.

📚

Educate

Teach children the value of trees. Visit a community forest. Share the message of conservation.

Kenya's Forests Life, Water & Future