The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has intensified efforts to increase the country’s tree cover by partnering with local communities through tree planting initiatives, including the reintroduction of the Shamba system.
Speaking during a tree planting exercise at Uplands Forest, Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko praised the collaboration between KFS officers and members of the public, particularly through Community Forest Associations (CFAs). He noted that their joint efforts have significantly contributed to raising Kiambu County’s forest cover to over 19 percent.
“We are seeing tremendous progress thanks to the cooperation between our officers and the community. Forest conservation is not just a government responsibility — it’s a collective effort,” Lemarkoko said.
The tree planting event, which involved local residents, saw over 9,000 tree seedlings planted across a six-hectare piece of forest land. The initiative forms part of broader government efforts to combat climate change and restore degraded forest areas.
As part of the strategy, KFS has revived the Shamba system — an agroforestry model that allows local communities to grow food crops alongside young trees on government-owned forest land, promoting both food security and environmental conservation.
Lemarkoko emphasized that community involvement remains crucial to sustaining forest ecosystems, adding that such collaborations will continue to be scaled up across the country.
