STRENGTHENING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE.

On 22 July 2026, Forestry Principal Secretary, Mr. Gitonga Mugambi , presided over a Donor Round-Table Breakfast that convened development partners, research institutions, private sector representatives and other key stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and mobilize strategic investments for sustainable forestry, landscape restoration and climate resilience in Kenya.

The high level forum provided an opportunity for stakeholders to explore innovative financing mechanisms, build strategic partnerships and align interventions that will accelerate the implementation of the Presidential 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme and Kenya's broader forest and landscape restoration agenda.

In his remarks, the Principal Secretary emphasized that strong partnerships are essential to achieving sustainable forest management and delivering Kenya's climate and development goals. He called on development partners, the private sector and other stakeholders to deepen collaboration, leverage technical expertise and invest in initiatives that will restore degraded landscapes, conserve biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem resilience and improve livelihoods for forest dependent communities.

Mr. Mugambi reaffirmed the Government's commitment to restoring degraded landscapes, particularly within the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and coastal ecosystems, through the implementation of the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy (2023–2032). He noted that the strategy provides a clear roadmap for restoring ecological integrity, enhancing carbon sequestration, building resilience to climate change and supporting sustainable socio-economic development.

The forum also highlighted a portfolio of investment-ready projects developed under the Project for Strengthening Forest Sector Development and Community Resilience to Climate Change through Sustainable Forest Management and Landscape Restoration (SFS-CORECC), which is being implemented in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Participants discussed investment opportunities in climate-resilient restoration of ASAL ecosystems, mangrove conservation and rehabilitation, agroforestry expansion, commercial forestry value chains, sustainable forest-based enterprises and integrated management of invasive alien species, with particular focus on Prosopis. These initiatives are expected to contribute significantly to Kenya's long-term environmental sustainability while creating economic opportunities for local communities.

The meeting was attended by Secretary for Forest Development Mr. George Tarus, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jane Njuguna, Chief Conservator of Forests Mr. Alex Lemarkoko and the Senior Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Kenya Office, Mr. Fumihiko Suzuki, among other distinguished stakeholders.

The engagement reaffirmed the Government's commitment to fostering strategic partnerships that will drive sustainable forestry, strengthen climate resilience and support the successful realization of Kenya's ambitious target of growing 15 billion trees by 2032.