Efforts to achieve Kenya’s ambitious tree-growing targets have received a significant boost following the expansion of the Kinale Model Tree Nursery, with authorities now leveraging youth involvement and community partnerships to accelerate seedling production.

Speaking on the eve of the International Day of Forests, Chief Conservator of Forests, Alex Lemarkoko, said the nursery, operated by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), is undergoing a major scale-up, increasing production from the current 2,000,000 seedlings annually to a projected 8 million, up from an initial 200,000 when the project began.

“Producing 8 million seedlings annually marks a shift from the norm. To meet the national target of planting 15 billion trees, we must produce at least 1 billion seedlings from KFS nurseries each year, and an additional half a billion from other nurseries to reach 1.5 billion,” he explained.

The expansion forms part of the government’s broader tree growing and greening agenda, which is anchored on economic transformation through green jobs, while also strengthening efforts towards climate change mitigation.

“To achieve these targets, we must be deliberate in expanding our production capacity. The Kinale model nursery is strategically positioned to help meet the growing demand for seedlings,” Lemarkoko added.

The initiative signals a scaled, coordinated push to drive both environmental restoration and livelihood opportunities across the country.

Adding that “ The work that we are doing in Kinale Tree Nursery, which is the expanded tree nursery,cannot be done by Kenya Forest Service alone. We have engaged the communities through the Community Forest Association (CFA), and they are the ones who provide the current labor, which has helped us attain the two million target so far. “

A key component of the expansion is the involvement of the National Youth Service (NYS), whose members are being deployed to tree nurseries across the country to provide much-needed labour.

Lemarkoko noted that while KFS already relies on support from community forest associations and existing government labour, the additional workforce from NYS will significantly enhance productivity.

“The youth will not only support us in tree growing but also gain valuable skills and knowledge that they can take back to their communities after their time of service,” he said.

Tree growing is also being supported by digital monitoring systems such as the Jaza Miti App, which tracks planting progress and enables farmers and individual tree growers to input data, enhancing accountability and reporting.

At the local level, community participation has been central to the project’s success. Chairman of the Kinale Community Forest Association (CFA), Dominic Chui Kimochu, said the association which has 2,500 members has played a crucial role in providing labour and supporting nursery operations.

Kimochu noted that it took the collaboration of two entities with the same vision to deliver the mega tree nursery. The CFA Chair described a two-pronged approach, collaboration with KFS and its partners, which has created income opportunities for members through seedling sales and tree planting initiatives. Locals from Kiambu County say the model nursery is set to further boost the local economy. He added that the forest’s rich indigenous cover plays a vital role in maintaining the region’s climate and supporting livelihoods.

“This forest is what makes Kinale what it is. It supports our environment, ensures we have food even during dry periods, and sustains the Aberdare ecosystem,” he said.

Dominic Kimonchu, Chairperson of the Kinale Community Forest Association (CFA), outlines a two-pronged approach to achieving the 15 billion trees ambition: scaling up quality seedling production and strengthening manpower for tree growing.

Since 2023, the CFA, working closely with KFS, has planted over 700,000 trees, a milestone attributed to improved seedling production and strengthened collaboration between the agency and the community.

Stakeholders note that the continued expansion of the Kinale nursery, alongside increased youth involvement and community partnerships, will be critical in advancing Kenya’s long-term environmental, economic and climate resilience goals.