NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) is grappling with significant challenges in its mission to distribute native seeds, a key component of Kenya’s ambitious tree planting agenda.
Speaking at the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) in Nairobi, KEFRI Seed Manager Bernard Kamondo highlighted the growing strain on seed sources, largely driven by human activities like illegal logging and land development.
“We have inadequate seed sources due to anthropogenic issues such as development and illegal logging,” Kamondo told participants during a panel titled “A Transformative Partnership Platform for Tree Seed and Seedling Delivery.”
Kamondo, addressing an audience at the GLF Africa 2024 Hybrid Conference, underscored the risks posed by human-driven activities to the genetic diversity of native seeds.
He also pointed to operational inefficiencies, seed quality issues, and centralized management as significant hurdles.
The GLF Africa 2024 forum, themed “Greening the African Horizon,” drew thousands of participants, ranging from local communities, indigenous groups, youth leaders, and policymakers to scientists, innovators, and private-sector actors.
The event aimed to explore Africa’s potential to build a sustainable and equitable future through its rich landscapes.
KEFRI, established in 1985, has been at the forefront of seed collection and distribution to meet the nation’s forest conservation needs.
The institute has grown from collecting 1.5 tonnes of seeds per year to harvesting 100 tonnes annually from over 400 tree species.
Despite this growth, Kamondo warned that seed supply remains strained.
“Anthropogenic activities are accelerating genetic erosion, threatening the future of native species,” Kamondo noted, citing additional obstacles like human resource limitations and the challenge of matching tree species to appropriate ecological zones.
In response to the issue of site matching, KEFRI has developed the JazaMiti mobile app, which helps users select suitable tree species for their location.
The app also enables monitoring tree growth over time, making it easier for the government and individuals to track the progress of Kenya’s ambitious tree-planting campaign.
The Kenyan government has set an ambitious target of growing 15 billion trees by 2032 to increase the country’s tree cover from the current 12.13% to 30%.
However, Kamondo revealed that the country would likely need to plant 20 billion trees, given that not all will survive.
The 15-billion-tree goal translates to every Kenyan planting 30 trees per year over the next decade, with a total projected cost of KSh 600 billion.
Despite progress, with forest cover rising from 5.9% in 2018 to 8.83% in 2021, challenges remain.
As experts at the forum warned that 30% of tree species are now threatened, the urgency to protect genetic diversity and revitalize the seed sector becomes even more critical.
Consultant John Nyaga stressed the need for a robust seed market, highlighting that understanding the sector’s intricacies is essential for long-term success.
Speaking at the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) in Nairobi, KEFRI Seed Manager Bernard Kamondo highlighted the growing strain on seed sources, largely driven by human activities like illegal logging and land development.
“We have inadequate seed sources due to anthropogenic issues such as development and illegal logging,” Kamondo told participants during a panel titled “A Transformative Partnership Platform for Tree Seed and Seedling Delivery.”
Kamondo, addressing an audience at the GLF Africa 2024 Hybrid Conference, underscored the risks posed by human-driven activities to the genetic diversity of native seeds.
He also pointed to operational inefficiencies, seed quality issues, and centralized management as significant hurdles.
The GLF Africa 2024 forum, themed “Greening the African Horizon,” drew thousands of participants, ranging from local communities, indigenous groups, youth leaders, and policymakers to scientists, innovators, and private-sector actors.
The event aimed to explore Africa’s potential to build a sustainable and equitable future through its rich landscapes.
KEFRI, established in 1985, has been at the forefront of seed collection and distribution to meet the nation’s forest conservation needs.
The institute has grown from collecting 1.5 tonnes of seeds per year to harvesting 100 tonnes annually from over 400 tree species.
Despite this growth, Kamondo warned that seed supply remains strained.
“Anthropogenic activities are accelerating genetic erosion, threatening the future of native species,” Kamondo noted, citing additional obstacles like human resource limitations and the challenge of matching tree species to appropriate ecological zones.
In response to the issue of site matching, KEFRI has developed the JazaMiti mobile app, which helps users select suitable tree species for their location.
The app also enables monitoring tree growth over time, making it easier for the government and individuals to track the progress of Kenya’s ambitious tree-planting campaign.
The Kenyan government has set an ambitious target of growing 15 billion trees by 2032 to increase the country’s tree cover from the current 12.13% to 30%.
However, Kamondo revealed that the country would likely need to plant 20 billion trees, given that not all will survive.
The 15-billion-tree goal translates to every Kenyan planting 30 trees per year over the next decade, with a total projected cost of KSh 600 billion.
Despite progress, with forest cover rising from 5.9% in 2018 to 8.83% in 2021, challenges remain.
As experts at the forum warned that 30% of tree species are now threatened, the urgency to protect genetic diversity and revitalize the seed sector becomes even more critical.
Consultant John Nyaga stressed the need for a robust seed market, highlighting that understanding the sector’s intricacies is essential for long-term success.
