Kenya Strengthens Ecosystem Restoration Collaboration with Ethiopia

On 25 February 2026, Forestry Principal Secretary Mr. Gitonga Mugambi undertook key engagements in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to strengthen Kenya’s collaboration with international and regional partners on ecosystem restoration and sustainable forestry.
Mr. Mugambi first paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Ambassador Galma M. Boru, Kenya’s Ambassador to Ethiopia. The discussions focused on advancing large-scale ecosystem restoration initiatives, including Kenya’s Presidential #15BillionTrees Growing Programme, which aims to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscapes and increase national tree cover to 30 percent by 2032. The Principal Secretary emphasized that restoration goes beyond tree planting, incorporating rehabilitation of water towers, regeneration of natural forests, agroforestry, and community participation, while leveraging partnerships for measurable environmental and socio-economic benefits.
Later, Mr. Mugambi held a bilateral meeting with a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) led by Serena Fortuna and Naoko Takahashi, both Senior Forestry Officers. The discussions focused on decoupling agricultural production from deforestation and exploring practical, scalable solutions that balance productivity with forest conservation. Among the proposals presented were FAO support for Kenya’s Agroforestry and Commercial Forestry Strategies, capacity building for local communities, expanded seedling production, value chain development, and strengthened data tracking systems. Support was also sought for Forestry Sector and REDD+ Investment Plans to unlock climate financing opportunities, with an emphasis on robust monitoring, reporting, and verification systems.
The Principal Secretary highlighted Kenya’s growing role in regional knowledge sharing, citing ongoing technical exchanges with delegations from Cote d’Ivoire, and underscored South–South cooperation as a platform for advancing locally driven, African-led solutions to shared environmental challenges.
Also present during the FAO meeting were Forest Development Secretary Mr. George Tarus, Dr. Kiplimo Kiplagat, County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture in Nandi County, and Ms. Chantal Chweya from the Embassy of Kenya in Ethiopia.
#15BillionTrees #15BillionTreesBy2032 #ClimateAction