Kenya Marks International Day Of Forest With Call to Integrate Forest Conservation into Economic Growth
On March 21, 2026, Kenya marked the International Day of Forests at Maragoli Hills with a renewed call for stronger integration of forest conservation and economic development.
The national celebrations brought together government officials, development partners, and local communities, highlighting the critical role forests play in sustaining livelihoods and driving economic transformation.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi underscored the need to position forests as central pillars of Kenya’s economic growth. He noted that the global theme “Forests and Economies” reflects forests as natural capital that supports livelihoods, industries, and national development. He further emphasized that forests sustain more than 1.6 billion people globally through agriculture, timber production, eco-tourism, and renewable energy.
He highlighted Kenya’s major water towers, including the Mau Forest Complex, Mount Kenya, and the Aberdare Range, noting their importance in supporting agriculture, hydropower generation, and domestic water supply.
Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Dr. Deborah M. Barasa emphasized aligning forest conservation with grassroots economic empowerment, noting its consistency with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
She highlighted that forests offer significant potential for rural economic growth through agroforestry, restoration, and forest-based value chains, while also supporting climate resilience and livelihoods.
Both leaders reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the 15 Billion Trees Programme, aimed at increasing Kenya’s tree cover to at least 30 percent by 2032. They noted that over 1.4 billion trees have already been grown, reflecting steady progress and the creation of green jobs.
They emphasized that achieving these goals requires a coordinated whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach involving national and county governments, development partners, the private sector, civil society, and local communities.
The event was attended by Principal Secretary for Forestry Mr. Gitonga Mugambi, Principal Secretary for Economic Planning Mr. Boniface Barasa Magokha, Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research Dr. Beatrice Mungada Inyangala, Wilberforce Ottichilo, Beatrice Kemei, Secretary for Forest Development Mr. George Tarus, Secretary Administration Mr. Patrick Meso, Coordinator of the 15 Billion Trees Secretariat Ms. Susan Boit, Director of Agroforestry Dr. Jesse Owino, among other senior officials.