Meru County revives 100,000 hectares through Kenya's bold reforestation push

Meru County has made significant progress in restoring its forests under Kenya's 15 billion tree initiative. Since December 2022, over 38.1 million trees have been planted across nine forest blocks in the region. This push comes as part of a wider effort to combat deforestation and invasive species that once threatened nearly 100,000 hectares of land.

Meru's forest landscape had suffered from years of illegal logging and the spread of destructive plants. Around 15 per cent of its total forest area was once overrun by invasive species, particularly in Meru Station, Lower Imenti, Ontulili, and Ruthumbi forests. The Kenya Forest Service (KFS), alongside local Community Forest Associations (CFAs), worked to uproot these plants and rehabilitate the affected zones.

The county now boasts a tree cover of 29 per cent and a forest cover of 13 per cent—both figures surpassing the national average. To maintain this progress, farmers granted plots within the forests must ensure at least 80 per cent of their planted trees survive. Failure to meet this target will result in eviction and a ban from future allocations.

Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi recently praised the KFS for its intensified planting efforts in Meru. The region's annual goal is 37 million trees, part of a broader plan to expand the initiative to 138 forests nationwide. So far, no other area outside Meru has successfully implemented the programme at this scale.

The restoration work in Meru has already shown measurable results, with degraded land being revived and invasive species removed. The county's participation in the 15 billion tree initiative sets a benchmark for other regions to follow. If targets continue to be met, Meru's forests could serve as a model for sustainable reforestation across Kenya.