ESTABLISHMENT OF A TEN (10) MILLION TREES NURSERY TOWARDS TEN PERCENT TREE AND FOREST COVERAGE IN KENYA.
“A ruined planet cannot sustain human lives in good health. A healthy planet and healthy people are two sides of the same coin.” Dr. Margaret Chan, DG World Health Organization
About TEAMEnvironment KENYA
TEAMEnvironment KENYA is a Community Based, Socio-economic and Environmental MEMBERSHIP Organization which constitutes of volunteers and representatives from corporate organizations, social enterprises, youth and women groups and organizations (public and private), SCHOOLS, INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, community members and other institutions who are focused on Greening and Environmental Conservation as a means to reversing the effects of global warming and CLIMATE CHANGE SDG NO. 13.
The philosophy of “Leaving a Heritage for Future Generations of a Cleaner, Greener (Food & Water) Secure Environment of FLORA, FAUNA & AQUATIC LIFE.” underscores our mandate, duty and responsibility to make (and be) the desired change towards green lifestyles in an endeavor to address ourselves to the various components of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This will ensure green and clean homes, workplaces, communities, towns, counties, countries and to ultimately find lasting solutions within our ‘environments’ towards a habitable “planet Earth” now and for posterity.
WHAT WE DO
We are involved in reforestation, agro-forestry, conservation agriculture and tree planting activities, solid waste management under My 3R’s Initiative as well as other best greening and environmental practices that espouse private public community partnerships in environmental conservation, resource management, restoration and biodiversity protection at community level. Our main goal is to contribute to the legacy of a habitable, peaceful, green, and clean environment for all, now and in posterity.
Vision
To be the most resourceful national network of cross-sector and multi-stakeholder actors committed to creating a green legacy in the conservation and protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services enhancement.
Mission
To foster climate change adaptation and mitigation by catalyzing community-level interventions that enhances well-being, livelihood security, environmental conservation and sustainable asset-based community development.
B. Team Environment Kenya initiatives
| Year | Initiative | Locations | Description |
| 2021 | Tree Nursery | KAG EAST UNIVERSITY,
IN KITENGELA, KITENGELA GK PRISON KAJIADO COUNTY, NYS HQ IN RAURAKA ALONG THIKA SUPER HIGHWAY, YATTA IN Kitui County & NYS FACILITY IN TURBO IN UASIN GISHU County. |
One (1) Million Tree Nursery. |
| 2022 | Tree Nursery | KAG EAST UNIVERSITY,
IN KITENGELA, KITENGELA GK PRISON KAJIADO COUNTY, NYS HQ IN RAURAKA ALONG THIKA SUPER HIGHWAY, YATTA IN Kitui County & NYS FACILITY IN TURBO IN UASIN GISHU County. |
Two (2) Million Tree Nursery. |
| 2023 | Tree Nursery | KAG EAST UNIVERSITY,
IN KITENGELA, KITENGELA GK PRISON KAJIADO COUNTY, NYS HQ IN RAURAKA ALONG THIKA SUPER HIGHWAY, YATTA IN Kitui County & NYS FACILITY IN TURBO IN UASIN GISHU County. |
Three (3) Million Tree Nursery. |
| 2024 | Tree Nursery | KAG EAST UNIVERSITY,
IN KITENGELA, KITENGELA GK PRISON KAJIADO COUNTY, NYS HQ IN RAURAKA ALONG THIKA SUPER HIGHWAY, YATTA IN Kitui County & NYS FACILITY IN TURBO IN UASIN GISHU County. |
Four (4) Million Tree Nursery. |
| 2025 | Tree Nursery | KAG EAST UNIVERSITY,
IN KITENGELA, KITENGELA GK PRISON KAJIADO COUNTY, NYS HQ IN RAURAKA ALONG THIKA SUPER HIGHWAY, YATTA IN Kitui County & NYS FACILITY IN TURBO IN UASIN GISHU County. |
Five (5) Million Tree Nursery. |
1. Introduction
Plants, whether in the form of trees, flowers in vases in our houses or phytoplanktons in the oceans, from public health context are critical to human health. They produce the oxygen that our lives depend on while sequestering carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Trees together form rainforests that have been dubbed the lungs of the earth while the phytoplanktons in oceans are known as the lungs of the ocean. We can classify tree cover in Kenya as forests and trees outside forests (TOF). Apart from cleaning our air, they fix nitrogen thereby improving soil fertility, control soil erosion, provide aesthetic beauty and cool air temperature. However, there has been a decline in forest cover across the country due to overharvesting for various uses.
Both forest and trees outside forests play major roles in the life of humans, animals and other members of ecosystems. Globally, particulate matter, partly attributed to reduced tree cover, is the ambient air pollutant with the largest health burden. Particulate matter is responsible for an estimated 3.2 million premature deaths annually, in both rural and urban areas. Particulate matter also causes a range of other nonfatal health problems that affect tens of millions of people annually, including coughing, asthma, bronchitis, irregular heartbeat, and non-fatal heart attacks. Municipal and national governments worldwide struggle to reduce particulate matter concentrations.
Another major challenge that cities face is dealing with urban heat islands caused by inadequate green zones. Exposure to high temperatures leads to several negative health effects. A set of diseases called heat injuries are directly attributable to acute, short-term exposure to heat.
The Figure Above Forecast of climate change’s impact on deaths due to excess heat, expressed as annual mortality numbers in 2030 and 2050. The WHO study looked at a range of climate scenarios, which cause a range of death. Data taken from WHO (2014)
Team Environment Kenya has been proactive in tree planting and other environmental & social programs aimed at improving human life. The project is aimed at scaling the tree planting initiatives. The tree nursery establishment will help in Creating Job opportunities for youths thus creating source of livelihoods. Encourage tree planting (growing) culture which will ensure food and water security. The significance increase of tree and forest cover will ultimately help in combating climate change and consequently mitigate the effects of global warming.
2. Project objectives
The main objective of the project is to establish a ten million tree nursery. Consequently, the trees will be planted in Public institutions and facilities, Private farms, Forests and public land across the country where growth and their sustainability is guaranteed. This will ensure a CLEAN, GREEN and healthy environment. Specific objectives of the project are:
- To contribute towards 10% tree & vegetation coverage in counties across the country.
- To increase awareness on health and environmental benefits of tree planting.
- To promote socio-economic empowerment of local communities.
- To improve youth, women and community based organizational capacity and public institutions to deliver the tree planting (growing) initiative.
- To bolster youth involvement in environmental conservation.
3. Justification for Tree Planting in Kenya
The goal of increasing forest cover to the 10% threshold espoused in the constitution can be achieved if various partners work together. It requires concerted efforts from among others youth groups, community-based organizations, NGOs and private sector. Previously in an attempt to stem the decline of forest resources, the Kenyan government, through its Vision 2030, Rural Development Strategy, 2001 –2016; Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation (ERS); Strategy for Revitalization of Agriculture, 2004-2014; Forest Act, 2005, and statements on the implementation of a Green Revolution in Kenya (AGRA, 2012), had emphasized the need to manage, protect and conserve forests. This was aimed at maintaining a base for water, food, wood and nutritional security. These initiatives were anchored in several laws and policies aimed at revitalizing the forest sector as envisioned in the Vision 2030.
Currently, the Constitution of Kenya requires a minimum tree cover of 10% of the total land area. This vision is not likely to be attained without urgently addressing illegal forest destruction and other issues. In this regard, the Kenyan government declared a moratorium on harvesting of timber on all public and community forests for 90 days with effect from 24 February 2018. The purpose of the moratorium was to allow for reassessment and rationalization of the entire forest sector in the country. The government through a presidential declaration also intends to achieve the 10% tree coverage by 2022 through planting of 360 million trees annually. However, statistics from the Kenya forestry services indicate they were only able to propagate and plant 70million trees across the country in 2018.
This led the government to task all its ministries and institutions to commit to the 10% tree coverage. Private stakeholders were also encouraged to support in filling the gap of 290 million trees annually so that the nation could achieve its objective of 10% tree coverage by 2022.
It is in this regard the TEAMEnvironment KENYA a non-governmental environmental organization has initiated a TEN (10) MILLION TREES NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT AS AN INTERVENTION MEASURE FOR THE DELIVERY OF 10% TREE &FOREST COVERAGE IN KENYA BY 2030. Implementation of this project by TEK is purposed at complementing the ongoing government efforts and other agencies and organizations.
2.2 RATIONAL FOR THE TEN (10) MILLION PLUS TREE NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT
TEAMEnvironment KENYA has been proactively been on the front row championing and spearhead the GREENING KENYA INITIAVE & Conservation Mission consistently for the last FIVE YEARS, and have so far planted at least One (1) Million Trees in various counties. We have a commitment and determination towards reclamation of degraded landscape and forest resources for the good of humanity and the ecosystems through adventure and sporting activities dubbed, “Expeditions” which involves activities such as, mountain climbing, cycling & skating and running (marathon) in the 47 Counties as we propagate the message of peace and encourage (peaceful coexistence amongst communities) social cohesion and intergression in our county and countrywide conservation initiatives.
This process will improve productivity of the degraded forest lands, improve food security, reduces poverty, enhances climate change, resilience, adaptation and fosters sustainable development. This exercise presents many new challenges and opportunities in the efforts to conserve soil, our water towers, biodiversity, restore ecological services and facilitate human well-being in and around deforested or degraded forest landscapes. The tremendous material and human resource requirements, as well as the technical and financial pre-requisites call for cross-sector and multi-stakeholder approach and inclusion.
In our quest and desire to bring change and transformation in our environment and ecosystem countrywide, TEAMEnvironment KENYA has been working in partnership and collaboration with the various County Governments and other agencies/organizations at the county level, business communities, schools/institutions and all stakeholders so as to ensure a successful execution and consequent realization of the Ten (10) Million Trees seedlings are to be planted by 2025 this is in our endeavor to realizing the desired target of at least 10% Tree (Forest) Cover by 2030.
This is our effort to complement what the Government through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry & its stakeholder’s efforts towards promoting and consequent realization of the 10% tree coverage in the country.
The Tree Nursery and Seedlings Propagation Centre will be at the KAG EAST UNIVERSITY in Kitegela Kajiado County. This is to be replicated at the Kitengela GK Prisons, NYS HQ In Ruaraka along Thika Road, NYS Facility in Yatta Kitui County and NYS Falicity in Turbo in Uasin Gishu County because of the readily available labour and human capital. Management at both institutions have consented to the initiative.
4. Proposed Project Outline
| ITEM | DESCRIPTION (ONGOING WORK) | ||
| Public sensitization | All stakeholders will be involved in community mobilization on the importance of tree planting. Partner organizations in collaboration with TEAMEnvironment KENYA to meet members of the target communities in their homes, public places and village meeting, where they will be sensitized on the importance of growing trees. They will also collect information from the target community regarding the tree varieties of interest that better suit the tree planting initiative. Following the approach of Public sensitization and involvement of communities in decision making will ensure ease of implementation and give the sense of ownership to the communities that will ensure long term sustainability. During the awareness raising campaign and community training, efforts will be made to ensure that these families also benefit from the operation and can participate fully. The project will also facilitate the process of linkages development and will involve local institutions in the process. | ||
| Direct Tree Seedlings Propagation and planting.
(To work closely with KFS, KEFRI and KEPHIS to guarantee high quality seedlings) |
Partnering Organization | No. of Seedlings | Locations |
| TEAMEnvironment KENYA and My 3R’s Initiative | Ten (10) million seedlings | KAG East University Kitengela (Kajiado County) | |
| TEAMEnvironment KENYA and My 3R’s Initiative. | Ten (10) million seedlings | KAG East University Kitengela (Kajiado County) | |
| Site preparation and Planting | Partnering Organization | Commitments and Contributions | |
| TEAMEnvironment KENYA and My 3R’s Initiative | They have an established network of youth and partners in select counties across the country that are working together in promoting agroforestry. Through the network, the institution has continued to promote tree planting in public and private institutions. The institution commits to use its strong network in identifying both public and private land for tree planting across its operation counties. The institution also has a close working relationship with Kenya Air force and Kenya prisons department, and they commit to bring them onboard. | ||
| Prisons | Correction facilities/Prisons also play a big role on the ongoing efforts of 10% tree coverage.
Through its land, the institution also has committed to raise 10 million seedlings in support of the tree planting initiative. The institution also intends to liase with other correction facilities across the country with an agenda of promoting the tree planting initiative. Kitengela Prison in Kajiado has also committed to work closely with TEAMEnvironment KENYA in promoting the Ten (10) million plus tree initiative in Kajiado County. The institution will provide land for tree planting and also provide human resource through its inmates on need basis.
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| Ministry of Environment | Being the custodian of the tree planting initiatives across the country, the ministry will continue to provide policy direction and capacity building to the initiative. Through its subsidiary institutions such as KFS, KEFRI and KEPHIS, the ministry will guide the propagation of quality seedlings by volunteering stakeholders into the initiative.
The ministry will also avail structures within its establishment, where the tree planting initiative by the health, environment and climate change committee can be anchored so that they can directly contribute to its agenda |
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| Other Stakeholders | TEAMEnvironment KENYA will continue mobilizing other stakeholders to promote the initiative by identifying or recommending other planting sites across the country. | ||
| Fertilizers, Manure and pesticides. | The Ministry of Environment through the UPOP Project is already promoting the conversion of waste into manure which will be used to promote organic planting of trees in the initiative. As a way of mitigating persistent organic pollutants, the ministry through the project will offer support on the use of pesticides that won’t harm the environment.
KEPHIS is currently promoting the use of organic fertilizers in propagation of herbal trees which they are using for studies and manufacturing of herbs. As a result, they intend to continue promoting the same organic practices within the project imitative. KFS have also been promoting the use of organic fertilizers and pesticides in their tree planting initiatives. The two institutions commit to uphold the same on this tree planting initiative. |
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| Stakeholders coordination and Resource leveraging | The Ministry of Environment and Forestry, KFS and KEFRI through Environment and Climate Change committee will continue to coordinate its stakeholders to support the initiative. | ||
| Cross-Cutting Issues | Empowerment of the most vulnerable | The tree planting initiative will also put into consideration the need to rights of women, children, disabled and other excluded groups in socioeconomic development activities. This is well captured in the Ministry of Environment strategic framework of TEAMEnvironment KENYA. | |
| Protecting the Environment | The partnering institutions recognize the importance of utilizing and protecting natural resources to minimize the negative impact and vice versa. Through the project initiative, the partnering institutions aim to improve environmental management practices in order to reduce the risk of climate induced hazards through measures such as reforestation of native and exotic trees etc., while adaptation and mitigation programs will provide technical skills to support this. All environments related issues will be incorporated during the entire project implementation period. | ||
| Economic impact: | The tree planting initiative will integrate agroforestry as a measure towards socioeconomic empowerment of beneficiary communities. Through the production of tree seedling as a project sustainability measure, beneficiaries involved on the indirect production of seedlings are expected to benefit a lot since they will be conducting the activity as an IGA to those in need of the seedlings. The project also will encourage the planting of fruit trees such as avocado which in the long run will act as an IGA to farmers involved. Improved resilience of the communities will also help them avoid the negative impact on socio-economic conditions in terms of human lives, property, livelihoods, and material resources caused by natural disasters. Also, the community structures organized on environmental management will promote bridging the social and economic capital, thus leading to an improved quality of life. | ||
5. Proposed Establishing Sites – KAG East University, in Kitengela, and in KITENGELA GK Prisons Facity in Kajiado County
Kajiado County is the proposed sire of its establishment due to the long standing partnership and collaboration enjoyed by TEAMEnvironment KENYA and a Partnership MOU Signed with the Institution on the Management of the Project. This good will, strong collaboration and partnership stems from the fact that TEK Director and TEAM LEADER is an alumni of that prestigious institution and where he also served as a student leader in charge of Missions and Outreach.
Proposed Execution/Tree planting (Growing) methodology includes;
- Adopt a Tree for each school going child
- Promote Tree planting (Growing) in the schools and institutions across the country at least twice a year (During the Long and Short Rains)
- Promote Seedlings Propagations Sites and Centres (Orchards & Tree Nurseries in Schools)
- Wetlands Protection, Restoration and Rehabilitation.
- Plant Your Age, Trees for Birthday and All other commemorations Strategy.
6. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
This is to be done by TEAMEnvironment KENYA and team of partners with the Support of KFS, KEFRI and Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
WORKPLAN
Proposed timelines and resources to be mobilized
| YEAR | TARGETED SEEDLINGS PROPAGATED | VENUES FOR THE NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT | RESPONSIBLE ORGANIZATIONS | SEEDLINGS TRANSPLANTED | EXPECTED RESOURCES MOBILIZED (KSH) |
| 2021 | 10,000,000 | KAG EAST UNIVERSITY,
IN KITENGELA, KITENGELA GK PRISON KAJIADO COUNTY, NYS HQ IN RAURAKA ALONG THIKA SUPER HIGHWAY, YATTA IN Kitui County & NYS FACILITY IN TURBO IN UASIN GISHU County. |
TEAMEnvironment KENYA and My 3R’s Initiative. | 1,000,000 | 5,000,000 |
| 2022 | 10,000,000 | KAG EAST UNIVERSITY,
IN KITENGELA, KITENGELA GK PRISON KAJIADO COUNTY, NYS HQ IN RAURAKA ALONG THIKA SUPER HIGHWAY, YATTA IN Kitui County & NYS FACILITY IN TURBO IN UASIN GISHU County. |
TEAMEnvironment KENYA and My 3R’s Initiative. | 1,000,000 | 10,000,000 |
| 2023 | 10,000,000 | KAG EAST UNIVERSITY,
IN KITENGELA, KITENGELA GK PRISON KAJIADO COUNTY, NYS HQ IN RAURAKA ALONG THIKA SUPER HIGHWAY, YATTA IN Kitui County & NYS FACILITY IN TURBO IN UASIN GISHU County. |
TEAMEnvironment KENYA and My 3R’s Initiative. | 1,000,000 | 15,000,000 |
| 2024 | 10,000,000 | KAG EAST UNIVERSITY,
IN KITENGELA, KITENGELA GK PRISON KAJIADO COUNTY, NYS HQ IN RAURAKA ALONG THIKA SUPER HIGHWAY, YATTA IN Kitui County & NYS FACILITY IN TURBO IN UASIN GISHU County. |
TEAMEnvironment KENYA and My 3R’s Initiative. | 1,000,000 | 20,000,000 |
| 2025 | 10,000,000 | KAG EAST UNIVERSITY,
IN KITENGELA, KITENGELA GK PRISON KAJIADO COUNTY, NYS HQ IN RAURAKA ALONG THIKA SUPER HIGHWAY, YATTA IN Kitui County & NYS FACILITY IN TURBO IN UASIN GISHU County. |
TEAMEnvironment KENYA and My 3R’s Initiative. | 1,000,000 | 25,000,000 |
| Total | 5,000,000 | 75,000,0000 |