NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya has announced plans to deepen its partnership with Finland in forestry and environmental sustainability, as the country pushes toward its goal of achieving 30 percent forest cover by 2032.
President William Ruto revealed the collaboration on Monday during bilateral talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who is in Nairobi on a state visit.
With over 75 percent of its land under forest, Finland is among the global leaders in sustainable forestry — a model Kenya hopes to emulate as it accelerates efforts to restore degraded landscapes and tackle climate change.
“I commend Finland for maintaining a forest cover of over 75 per cent of its landmass. We will collaborate closely to draw on Finland’s expertise as we pursue our ambitious goal,” Ruto said at State House.
Borrowing from the Best
Kenya launched its aggressive reforestation campaign in December 2022, aiming to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 — roughly 1.5 billion trees a year.
The initiative forms part of Kenya’s broader climate action plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions, reverse deforestation, and rehabilitate 5.1 million hectares of degraded land under the African Landscape Restoration Initiative.
President Ruto said Finland’s track record in sustainable forest management, reforestation technology, and biodiversity conservation makes it a natural partner in Kenya’s green growth agenda.
“Finland’s success in maintaining a thriving forest ecosystem while fostering economic development provides a valuable model for Kenya,” Ruto added.
Kenya deeply values its longstanding friendship with Finland, a key development partner in Europe and a steadfast supporter of our national ambitions.We are committed to leveraging Finland’s expertise in education, technology, renewable energy, and climate action to
Tech, Training, and Green Jobs
The two leaders agreed to explore joint projects in forest monitoring, community-led conservation, and the use of advanced technology in reforestation.
They also discussed launching academic and technical exchange programmes to build local capacity in forestry science and environmental stewardship.
The partnership is expected to not only help Kenya meet its afforestation targets but also boost green job creation and community livelihoods.
To guide the collaboration, a joint task force will be formed to map out priority areas and identify actionable steps.
President Stubb praised Kenya’s climate leadership and said Finland was eager to share knowledge and tools that have worked in the Nordic country.
