Meru County plants 38 million trees to restore degraded forests

Meru County has made significant progress in restoring its degraded forests under a national tree-planting initiative. Since December 2022, over 38.1 million trees have been planted across nine forest blocks in the region. The effort involves local communities, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), and other partners working to reverse years of environmental damage.

The Meru forested landscape covers nearly 100,000 hectares but has suffered from illegal logging, invasive species, and human encroachment. At one point, around 15 per cent of the forest area was overrun by destructive plants. The KFS, alongside Community Forest Associations (CFAs), has since cleared large sections and replanted them.

Last year, the county planted 24 million trees, falling short of its annual goal of 37 million. Despite this, the current tree cover in Meru stands at 29 per cent, with forest cover at 13 per cent—both figures exceeding the national average. Those assigned forest plots must ensure the survival of the trees they manage, or they risk losing access and being barred from future allocations.

Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi praised the KFS for its intensified efforts in Meru. The programme, part of President Ruto's plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, will soon expand to 138 forests nationwide. Meru's Chief Forest Conservator, Wellington Ndaka, confirmed that the collaboration between KFS, CFAs, and other stakeholders remains key to the restoration work.

The reforestation drive in Meru has already seen millions of trees planted, with stricter measures in place to protect new growth. The initiative aims to meet annual targets while expanding to more forests across Kenya. Success will depend on sustained community involvement and enforcement of conservation rules.