The government has expressed serious concerns regarding the ongoing degradation of landscapes, warning that it could have significant long-term effects on overall human wellbeing. Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya highlighted that this degradation threatens critical sectors of the economy, including agriculture, livestock, tourism, forestry, and fisheries.
Speaking at Embu during this year’s World Environment Day, Tuya emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “These challenges threaten the livelihoods of millions of Kenyans, particularly the rural poor who rely on natural resources for their survival.”
This year’s World Environment Day focuses on accelerating global commitments to protect 30% of land and sea for nature and to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems. While nations have pledged to restore one billion hectares of land by 2030, current trends indicate that approximately 1.5 billion hectares may actually require restoration to achieve land degradation neutrality by that target year.
Tuya noted that the poor are disproportionately affected by climate change, underscoring the importance of land restoration. “Land restoration holds the key to reversing this tide. Every investment in restoration yields significant returns in terms of improved ecosystem services,” she asserted.
To support these efforts, the government will utilize the Jaza Miti App to track and monitor nationwide tree-planting initiatives. The Cabinet Secretary outlined that land restoration is a central pillar of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), a global initiative crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The strategy adopted is inclusive, calling for the active participation of all Kenyans—from individuals to institutions, and across both public and private sectors, as well as urban and rural communities. This “whole-of-society, whole-of-government” approach is built upon five key objectives:
- Increasing national tree cover by 17.8% by 2032 through targeted interventions on public, community, and private lands.
- Leveraging nature-based solutions to enhance sustainable land management practices and bolster community resilience.
- Improving landscape and ecosystem governance via robust policy, regulatory, and institutional frameworks.
- Encouraging private sector investment in restoration efforts.
- Developing sustainable financing mechanisms for the rehabilitation of degraded landscapes while strengthening capacity for research, monitoring, evaluation, and knowledge management.
Tuya reiterated that this strategy aligns with Kenya’s international commitments under the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.
