Strengthening Lake Basin Management to Support Kenya’s Restoration Ambitions

On 14th January 2026, Forest Development Secretary Mr. George Tarus hosted a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at the Ministry headquarters in Nairobi, marking an important step in deepening collaboration on Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM) in Eastern Africa.
The engagement focused on a data collection survey designed to support the mainstreaming of ILBM, an approach that promotes coordinated management of land, water, forests, and ecosystems within lake basins. The discussions highlighted the growing recognition that sustainable landscape and watershed management remains central to the success of Kenya’s ambitious 15 Billion Trees Growing Programme by 2032.
Lake basins play a critical role in ecosystem stability, water security, climate regulation, and community livelihoods. By strengthening planning through reliable data and integrated management frameworks, the partnership is expected to enhance ecosystem restoration, build climate resilience, and support sustainable economic activities for communities living within these fragile landscapes.
The JICA delegation, led by Dr. Hiroshi Imae, reaffirmed the agency’s continued commitment to supporting Kenya’s forestry and environmental sustainability agenda. Areas of cooperation include strengthening tree growing initiatives, promoting conservation, and enhancing data-driven decision-making to guide restoration efforts.
During the engagement, Mr. Tarus emphasized that protecting lake basins and their surrounding catchments is essential for reversing environmental degradation, safeguarding water resources, and delivering long-term ecological and socio-economic benefits.
The meeting brought together key technical leadership, including Director of Agroforestry Dr. Jesse Owino, Coordinator of the 15 Billion Trees National Secretariat Ms. Susan Boit, and Ms. Beatrice Atemo from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), alongside other Ministry and sector experts.
The collaboration reflects Kenya’s growing partnerships with international development agencies to accelerate forest and landscape restoration, strengthen climate action, and promote sustainable management of critical ecosystems.
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