748 Air Services has launched a KSh3.1 million forest restoration initiative at Ngong Hills Forest, marking a significant step in the airline’s commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development.
The initiative will see the airline restore 10 acres of degraded forest land, beginning with the planting of over 4,000 indigenous Acacia and Croton seedlings across an initial five acres, in partnership with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Ngong Hills Metropolitan Community Forest Association.
The restoration programme follows a forest adoption agreement signed on October 21, 2026, formalising the airline’s commitment to rehabilitating the designated forest area and supporting its long-term ecological recovery.
Speaking during the tree-planting exercise, 748 Air Services Managing Director Moses Mwangi said the investment reflects the company’s commitment to translating environmental responsibility into tangible action.
“Our commitment to restoring Ngong Hills Forest goes beyond planting trees. It is about taking responsibility for the environment and investing in the long-term health of ecosystems that sustain our communities. We want to ensure that the trees planted today grow into a thriving forest that will benefit generations to come,” said Mwangi.
748 Air Services Environmental Manager George Oduor said the initial planting of over 4,000 indigenous Acacia and Croton seedlings across five acres marks an important first step in the company’s wider 10-acre forest restoration programme.
“Planting trees is only the beginning of forest restoration. Our focus is on ensuring that the over 4,000 seedlings planted in this initial phase survive, mature and contribute to a healthy, thriving ecosystem. Through sustained maintenance and monitoring, we want to ensure that our investment delivers measurable environmental benefits, including improved biodiversity and carbon sequestration, for generations to come,” said Oduor.
The initiative brings together private-sector investment, government technical expertise and community participation, demonstrating the importance of collaborative approaches to forest restoration and environmental stewardship.
748 Air Services Chairman Ahmed Jibril emphasised that environmental conservation is a shared responsibility, calling on more businesses to integrate sustainability into their long-term strategies.
“Environmental conservation cannot be left to governments and conservation organisations alone. The private sector has an equally important role to play in protecting and restoring our natural resources. Our investment in Ngong Hills Forest reflects our commitment to responsible business practices and our belief that meaningful environmental action must deliver lasting benefits. We see this as part of a broader journey towards building a greener and more sustainable Kenya,” said Jibril.
World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa Eric Perdison underscored the critical link between environmental conservation, food security and climate resilience, noting that healthy ecosystems play an essential role in sustaining agricultural productivity and protecting vulnerable communities from climate-related shocks.
“Food security begins with a healthy environment. Forests play a vital role in protecting water catchments, maintaining soil health and supporting the agricultural systems that millions of people depend on for their livelihoods. As climate change continues to threaten food production and livelihoods across the region, restoring degraded ecosystems is an important investment in building resilient communities and safeguarding food security for future generations,” said Perdison.
Amb. Dr. Amina Mohamed commended the airline for demonstrating how corporate investment can contribute to environmental restoration, underscoring the importance of partnerships that bring together government, businesses, communities and development partners.
“Restoring our forests requires more than individual efforts. It calls for collective responsibility, sustained investment and a shared commitment to protecting our natural heritage. Through this initiative, 748 Air Services is demonstrating the important role the private sector can play in advancing environmental conservation. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that today’s efforts translate into healthy, thriving forests for future generations,” said Amb. Dr. Mohamed.
Ngong Hills Metropolitan Community Forest Association Chairman Samson Ole Kereya welcomed the partnership, noting that meaningful forest restoration depends on the active involvement of local communities alongside government and corporate stakeholders.
“Successful forest restoration requires sustained collaboration between government, the private sector and the communities entrusted with protecting these ecosystems. Partnerships such as this strengthen our collective capacity to rehabilitate degraded forest areas while contributing to Kenya’s broader efforts to increase tree cover and protect biodiversity,” said Kereya.
The Ngong Hills restoration programme builds on 748 Air Services’ wider environmental conservation efforts, including its involvement in the restoration of 15.5 acres of forest land in Kakamega.
Through these initiatives, the airline continues to demonstrate its commitment to responsible environmental stewardship, supporting healthier ecosystems, biodiversity conservation and the preservation of natural resources for future generations.
