Why the future of food begins with our forests and environmental champions

Forests are not just places of beauty and biodiversity; they are food baskets, pharmacies, water towers, and climate regulators for billions. From wild fruits, seeds, and roots that feed rural families to the pollinators that ensure farm harvests and the wood that fuels cooking fires, forests sustain life in ways we often overlook. 

In times of crisis, they are lifelines, providing up to 20 per cent of household incomes in rural areas, according to the United Nations. They also ensure dietary resilience when formal systems falter.

Today, the world pauses to honour forests, but in truth, everyone with a meal on their table owes them gratitude. This year’s International Day of Forests theme, “Forests and Food,” could not be more timely.

Trees are natural air conditioners, water filters, carbon sinks, and, like our forefathers always knew, factories of medicine and health. Taxane from the Pacific yew tree treats cancer. The active ingredient in aspirin comes from willows. Urban neighbourhoods with more trees see lower asthma rates, reduced anxiety, and even less crime. 

Research reveals that forests cool our cities by up to 10 degrees, shield us from dangerous UV rays, and, through a process called phytoremediation, clean the very water and soil we depend on.

The 2024 Kenya Forest Status Report reveals that forests contribute 3.6% to Kenya’s GDP, although this figure excludes ecosystem services such as water conservation, climate regulation, and cultural benefits.

Sadly, we are losing this lifeline at an alarming rate. Globally, 10 million hectares vanish each year due to deforestation, and another 70 million are scorched by fires. 

Here in Kenya, the Global Forest Watch reports equally sobering numbers: Over 50,000 hectares of primary forest were lost between 2002 and 2023, undermining water security, agriculture, and livelihoods. The Mau Forest, our largest water tower, has shrunk by 25 per cent since the 1980s.

This is not just environmental degradation; it’s economic sabotage and an ever-looming food security crisis. To counter these challenges, a continent-wide movement dubbed ‘The African Forest Landscape Restoration’ (AFR100) aims to restore 100 million hectares of land by 2030, bringing together governments, local communities, and partners.

Kenya has pledged to restore a whopping 5.1 million hectares of degraded forests by 2030. With the bold 15 billion Tree Planting Strategy, Kenya aims to boost its tree cover to 30 per cent by 2032. For reference, we are currently at about 9 per cent, short of the constitutionally required 10 per cent.

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is working towards this goal through various initiatives, including tree planting, forest restoration and awarding tree growing heroes. 

These quiet planters; including farmers revitalizing their land, school children learning to care for their environment, corporate volunteers lending their time, and community leaders rallying entire villages around a shared mission; often go unnoticed. Yet, each sapling they nurture breathes life back into landscapes scarred by deforestation and degradation.

Their work is physically demanding yet deeply rewarding. Under the heat of the sun or in the chill of early morning mist, they kneel on the ground with muddy hands and expectant hearts, planting the seeds of a greener tomorrow.

Every seedling represents cleaner air, fertile soil, abundant rainfall, and thriving wildlife. Their work contributes to combating climate change, supporting biodiversity, and securing livelihoods for generations to come.

They remind us that planting a tree is not only about growth but also about leaving a legacy that will shade, shelter, and nourish long after we are gone.

Recognising, celebrating, and supporting the heroes who protect and restore our forests is key to keeping the momentum. That’s why this Saturday, March 21, the Africa Champion of Trees (ACT) Awards, the first of their kind, will be launched for the very first time. 

These awards will spotlight individuals, communities, and organizations stepping up quietly but powerfully to defend and restore Africa’s forests. 

From community conservancies keeping ancient woodlands alive to youth groups planting urban forests and farmers integrating agroforestry into their land, the ACT Awards will amplify their stories and inspire action continent-wide.

We need champions because trees are on the front lines of climate change and among our most affordable and robust solutions. We have underestimated them for far too long. 

The science is clear; the need is urgent. Governments must strengthen policies to protect forests and enforce sustainable land use. The private sector must embed restoration in their climate and ESG commitments. And each of us — every citizen — has a role to play, whether by planting a tree, supporting conservation efforts, or championing forest-positive products.

The writer is the Chief Executive Officer and Project Lead, Africa Champion of Trees Awards