State plans to grow forest sector by Sh137 billion

Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa during the launch of the Tupande tree growing initiative at One Arce Fund grounds in Kakamega, on April 9, 2025. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

The government has unveiled an elaborate plan to grow the forest sector to a Sh137 billion industry by 2050.

The plan by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry also seeks to have the industry, currently valued at Sh5 billion, employ 85,000. There are 15,000 individuals working in the sector.

The expansion of the sector aims at meeting growing demand for wood, enhance the availability of quality seeds and seedlings, improve forest management practices, and support forest certification schemes.

Speaking during the annual launch of the Kenya Industrial Wood Sector Vision 2050 on Tuesday, Gitonga Mugambi the Secretary State Department for Forestry said the analysis on the expansion will give a robust sector economic model, integrating micro and macro level perspectives of growers, processors, and value chain actors, and employ a tailored investment assessment toolkit.

"With the right enabling environment, the industrial wood sector's contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could grow from Sh5 billion to Sh137 billion by 2050," said Gitonga.
Additionally, she said the GDP is expected to solve unemployment among youths in Kenya and increase household participation among the unemployed and low earning individuals.

"This growth trajectory could generate 85,000 quality jobs annually, increase household-level participation from 2.7 million to 7.5 million growers and deliver an estimated Sh3.7 billion annually in ecosystem services and climate co-benefits, including carbon credits," said.

The strategic plan Vision 2050 focuses on integrating environmental sustainability with economic growth and social development, aiming for a healthy environment, sustainable resource management, and a climate-resilient future.

It also emphasizes key areas like strengthening environmental governance, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable resource management.

"This strategic plan will strengthen value chain and aggregation models, including the integration of smallholder farmers. It also aligns with national development agendas like the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BeTA) and Kenya Vision 2030," said George Tarus, Secretary Forest Development.

The ministry is calling on the private sector to invest in tree farming and development partners to grow trees.