This archive report was first published on 18 December 2019.
On December 18, 2019, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) unveiled a novel approach to tree planting in national parks and reserves. The ambitious project aims to plant over 100,000 trees annually, with a focus on increasing forest cover from the current 7.2 percent to 10 percent.
According to Wildlife PS Prof Fred Segor, the initiative is in line with the Cabinet's decision to have all ministries and state departments plant trees across the country. The KWS has been designated as the lead agency in this effort due to its responsibility for managing wildlife parks.
Prof Segor explained that the service will utilize choppers to drop seed balls in targeted parks, which will later germinate into trees. This innovative method, he noted, is a new concept where seeds are dropped from the air in parks known to have favorable conditions for germination and growth.
As part of the government's efforts to increase forest cover, the KWS has already planted 10,000 trees in the first phase. The next phase will see the use of choppers to hasten the process, with the goal of planting over 100,000 trees annually.
Prof Segor emphasized the importance of supporting the government's initiative, citing the availability of sufficient land for tree planting. He was joined by KWS Director General John Waweru, who highlighted the effectiveness of the method, stating that the seeds had been treated and could not be damaged or eaten by wild animals.
Waweru also noted that the seeds have a five-year grace period, during which they will germinate. Teddy Kinyanjui from Seed Kenya, a partner in the initiative, added that the seeds had been tested and certified by the Kenya Forestry Research Institute, with a germination rate of 60 percent.
