Earthbanc Donates Over 3 Million Seedlings to Boost Kenya’s Jaza Miti Initiative
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Kenya Forest Service has received more than three million tree seedlings from Earthbanc in support of the Government’s national tree growing and restoration programme under the Jaza Miti Initiative.
The donation is expected to strengthen Kenya’s target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032, restoring about 5.1 million hectares of degraded land and increasing the country’s tree cover to 30 per cent.
The seedlings, which include indigenous and climate-resilient tree species, have already been distributed to several counties including Uasin Gishu County, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Nandi County, Trans Nzoia County, Kericho County, Baringo County, Kiambu County and Makueni County.
KFS will oversee the planting exercise in partnership with county governments, community groups and other stakeholders, with a focus on long-term ecosystem restoration and environmental conservation.
Chief Conservator of Forests at Kenya Forest Service, Alex Lemarkoko, said the partnership demonstrates the critical role of private sector collaboration in helping Kenya achieve its climate and restoration goals.
He noted that the National Tree Growing and Restoration Campaign is a Presidential directive aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reversing deforestation and restoring degraded landscapes to achieve 30 per cent tree cover by 2032. He added that the support from partners such as Earthbanc highlights what can be achieved when private sector efforts align with national priorities.
Since launching operations in Kenya in 2024 through its subsidiary Earthtree Company Limited, Earthbanc has supported the production of about six million seedlings, trained hundreds of farmers in agroforestry and sustainable land management, and donated beehives to improve pollination and diversify rural incomes. More than half of the seedlings raised have been donated to KFS.
Earthbanc Co-Chief Executive Officer Rishabh Khanna said Kenya’s climate restoration efforts are among the most ambitious in Africa and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to community-led ecosystem restoration.
He noted that the initiative is not only about restoring degraded land and protecting the environment but also about equipping communities with knowledge and tools to sustain the trees for future generations while creating income opportunities through restoration activities.
Earthtree Company Limited is working closely with the Kenya Forest Service, the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, local communities and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry to scale up restoration programmes and strengthen community participation.
Beyond environmental conservation, the initiative also promotes livelihoods through agroforestry by enabling communities to benefit from fruit trees and other non-timber forest products while contributing to national restoration targets.
Kenya’s Jaza Miti Initiative has continued to gain momentum since its launch, with millions of trees planted across the country and growing participation from organisations, institutions and communities in national tree planting campaigns.
The partnership between KFS and Earthbanc underscores the growing importance of public-private collaboration in advancing Kenya’s transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy while creating environmental, social and economic benefits for communities.
