The Ministry of Environment is exploring opportunities to expand the forestry value for wealth and employment creation in line with the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

The Ministry is particularly keen on ensuring agro and commercial forestry contributes more to Kenya’s GDP as the country implements the 15 Billion National Tree Growing Program.

Principal Secretaries Gitonga Mugambi (Forestry) and Charles Hinga (Housing and Urban Development) had a discussion on Greening Construction with sustainable wood co-hosted by the Swedish Government and UNDP Kenya led by Ambassador to Kenya H.E Caroline Vicini and UNDP Kenya Resident Representative Mr. Anthony Ngororano at the Swedish Embassy’s Residence in Nairobi.

The discussions centered on Commercial Forestry and fostering collaboration by engaging in partnerships across sectors and borders to share knowledge, technologies, and best practices to overcome challenges and accelerate progress towards achieving common goals.

The party also delved into innovations in wood technology by investing in research and development to advance technologies that enhance the strength, durability, and versatility of wood which will expand its applications in construction while reducing waste and increasing efficiency.

Ministry of Environment is implementing an ambitious target to grow its commercial forests from the current 180,000 Ha to 750,000 Ha as well as enhance the availability of quality seed and seedlings, improve forest management practices, and support forest certification schemes to ensure sustainable forest management.