Kefri seed project seeks to attain 10 per cent forest cover

Tree planting at Kaptagat forest on June 19, 2022. [Ivy Choge, Standard]

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has rolled out a programme to make available 80 metric tonnes of certified seeds to ensure the country attains over 10 per cent forest cover.

The seeds from the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (Kefri) will be disbursed through various regional development authorities, to promote tree planting drives across the country.

While handing over about 20 million tree seeds to the Kerio Valley Development Authority in Eldoret, the ministry’s PS Dr Chris Kiptoo said this is meant to increase forest cover from the current 8.8 per cent to the required 10 per cent standards.

The seeds will also be distributed to about 4,800 schools, TVETs and tertiary institutions, to enable the plantation of more than two billion seedlings of different types of trees a year.