SIANK ANNUAL TREE PLANTING

About this Event
The Swedish Institute Alumni Network Kenya, supported by the Swedish Institute, is grounded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We aim to plant 10,000 trees in the coming few years to preserve the environment for the present population and the generations line with SDGs#13 and #15. We are targeting 200 participants including High School and University students who will play their part in transforming our World.

Kenya is among the low forest cover countries way below the internationally recommended 10% threshold for environmental stability. Current tree cover in Kenya stands at 7.2% leaving a gap of 1.6 million hectares that require 1.8 billion seedlings.

Low forest cover in Kenya has been as a result of over-exploitation of forest resources and impacts of climate change. Climate change has led to negative impacts such as frequent cyclic droughts, rising temperatures, reduced water levels, erratic rainfall, and destructive floods.

The ‘10 Percent National Tree Cover Strategy’ programme is projected to establish between 30,000 – 40,000 Ha of forests by 2022 and increase forest cover from 7% to 10%, We the Swedish Institute Alumni Network Kenya (SiANK), used Sweden as the benchmark country with more than half the total land area of the country, 57% or 23 million hectares, is covered in forest. Coming together as partners in this noble event will help in increasing our country’s forest cover to the required global minimum of at least 10% forest cover.

The 10 Percent National Tree Cover Strategy inculcates a shared responsibility towards addressing climate change impacts and public concerns regarding protection, conservation, and sustainable management of forest resources. It also seeks to enhance the contribution of the forestry sector towards the implementation of the Big 4 Agenda. The strategy provides for a series of interventions towards achieving and maintaining 10 percent tree cover by 2022. They include the following:

● Implementing innovative restoration programmes, including the Greening Kenya Initiative; Greening of Infrastructure and Institutions; the “Adopt a Forest” concept and the Environmental Soldier Programme (ESP) of the Kenya Defense Forces to support seedlings production and rehabilitation of degraded forest areas.

● Enhancing tree planting campaigns through national and county events, public education, awareness and sensitization.

● Producing 1.8 billion quality tree seedlings by 2022, needed to increase tree cover.

● Strengthening coordination and collaboration in the governance of the forest sector for implementation of the various national and county policies, legislations and rules that require increased tree planting. This includes strengthening the capacity of Kenya Forest Service to implement its mandate.

● Enhancing conservation and protection of natural forests on public, community and private lands, and rehabilitation of degraded areas.

● Establishing commercial forest plantation on public, private and community lands to provide adequate and sustainable timber poles and fuelwood for industrial and domestic consumption.

● Adopting the use of alternative energy sources and efficient wood conversion and utilization technologies by institutions, industry and households.