The urgent need to combat climate change has brought forest restoration and tree-planting initiatives to the forefront of global and national environmental agendas. In Kenya, the government has embarked on an ambitious target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032 to increase tree cover to over 30%.¹ While these efforts are commendable and visually impactful, a critical distinction often gets lost in the enthusiasm: the difference between “tree planting” and “tree growing.” This nuanced understanding is fundamental to achieving meaningful and sustainable climate change mitigation and adaptation outcomes, especially in the context of Kenya’s diverse ecological zones and socio-economic realities.

The Core Concept: Beyond the Seedling

Tree planting, at its most basic, involves putting a seedling into the ground.² It is an event, a single act of ecological intervention. Tree growing, on the other hand, is a continuous, long-term process that encompasses the entire life cycle of a tree, from careful seedling selection and proper planting techniques to consistent nurturing, protection, and management until maturity and beyond. This includes watering, weeding, protection from pests, diseases, and human or animal damage, and often, the integration of trees into sustainable land management systems like agroforestry. The stark reality is that a significant number of planted seedlings, especially in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) prevalent in Kenya, fail to survive beyond their initial planting without sustained care. This low survival rate renders many large-scale planting drives far less effective in carbon sequestration and ecosystem restoration than they appear on paper.

Relation to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

The distinction between planting and growing is paramount for both climate change mitigation and adaptation. For mitigation, trees act as vital carbon sinks, absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide (³CO2​) through photosynthesis.⁴ However, a tree only sequesters significant amounts of carbon as it grows and matures.⁵ A dead or struggling seedling contributes minimally to carbon removal. Therefore, focusing on tree growing ensures that planted trees reach a stage where they can effectively capture and store carbon in their biomass and the surrounding soil for decades. Studies by institutions such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) consistently highlight the importance of established forests as carbon sinks.⁶

In terms of adaptation, thriving trees and forests play a crucial role in enhancing ecosystem resilience. They regulate local climates by providing shade and reducing ambient temperatures, particularly vital in increasingly hot urban and rural areas across Kenya.⁷ Forests improve water infiltration, reduce soil erosion, and recharge groundwater, offering critical buffers against droughts and floods—two prominent climate change impacts in East Africa. Agroforestry systems, a key aspect of tree growing, diversify farmers’ livelihoods, enhance food security by providing fruits, fodder, and timber, and improve soil health, making agricultural systems more resilient to erratic weather patterns.⁸ These benefits are only realized when trees are not merely planted, but grown to maturity and integrated into the landscape.

Current Trends, Opportunities, and Success Stories in Kenya and East Africa

Kenya’s 15-billion tree initiative demonstrates a significant national commitment to increasing tree cover.⁹ The government has also launched the “Jaza Miti” application to monitor and track tree-growing activities, indicating a move towards greater accountability.¹⁰ This national drive presents immense opportunities for sustained tree growing if the focus shifts from purely counting planted seedlings to ensuring their survival and growth.

Several successful initiatives in Kenya and the wider East African region exemplify the principles of tree growing.¹¹ Projects supported by organizations like RODI Kenya and Trees for Cities, often in partnership with local communities and schools, emphasize long-term care and the integration of trees into productive landscapes.¹² For instance, RODI Kenya’s “Mass Tree Production” project, supported by ECOSIA, targets mass tree planting in public spaces and on-farm agroforestry across five counties, with a three-year monitoring period aiming for over 90% survival rates.¹³ They focus on diversified species and engage youth and farmers in nursery management and indigenous knowledge.¹⁴ Similarly, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and CIFOR-ICRAF are working with communities around Faro National Park to restore degraded landscapes by distributing resilient tree species like baobab and moringa, alongside training in sustainable agriculture. These initiatives often incorporate fruit-bearing trees to provide immediate socio-economic benefits, incentivizing communities to nurture the trees.

The “Regreening Africa” project has also showcased how integrating trees into croplands and pastoral areas can reverse land degradation and provide income-generating opportunities for local communities, including youth, through high-value trees and value addition.¹⁵ These examples underscore that success hinges on community ownership and sustained management, not just initial planting.

Challenges and Policy Gaps

Despite the ambitious targets and promising initiatives, significant challenges and policy gaps hinder effective tree growing in Kenya. A primary challenge, particularly in ASALs that constitute over 80% of Kenya’s landmass, is the low survival rate of seedlings due to moisture stress, termite infestation, animal damage, and competition from weeds. Inadequate resource allocation for post-planting care and management is a critical policy gap. While substantial funds are allocated for seedling acquisition and planting events, the budget for long-term tree care professionals, equipment, training, and public education campaigns often falls short of what is required to ensure survival and growth.

Furthermore, issues such as insecure land tenure, particularly in community lands, can disincentivize long-term investment in tree growing.¹⁶ Lack of alignment between different laws and institutions regulating natural resources, coupled with insufficient respect for local knowledge in policy formulation, creates implementation hurdles. The Forest Conservation and Management Act (2016) made strides in community involvement through Community Forest Associations (CFAs), but clarity in competencies, capacity building, and financial support for CFAs remain areas needing significant attention. There’s also a need for more robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks that track tree survival and growth rates, rather than solely focusing on the number of trees planted.

The Role of Youth, Communities, and Innovation

The success of a truly impactful tree-growing movement lies squarely with the active involvement of youth, empowered communities, and innovative approaches. Youth in Kenya are increasingly taking the lead in environmental conservation.¹⁷ Organizations like Foster Green Community Organisation, a youth-led entity, are establishing environmental clubs in schools, teaching young people not just to plant trees, but to understand the broader implications of conservation and take ownership of projects.¹⁸ Their focus on fruit trees also links environmental efforts to food security and economic benefits, a powerful motivator. Initiatives like “Trees for Goals” by Lesein Mutunkei, where trees are planted for every goal scored, creatively engage young people and spread awareness.¹⁹

Community involvement is indispensable for sustained tree growing. When communities have a direct stake in the benefits of trees—be it for food, fodder, timber, or improved microclimates—they become active custodians. Empowering communities through training in sustainable agroforestry practices, nursery management, and value addition from tree products fosters a sense of ownership and ensures long-term commitment.²⁰

Innovation also holds immense potential. The “Jaza Miti” app is a positive step towards digital monitoring. Further innovations in dryland forestry research, such as selecting appropriate tree species adapted to specific local conditions, developing water-efficient planting methods, and exploring biochar production to improve soil fertility and water retention, are crucial. Public-private partnerships and carbon trading mechanisms can also incentivize tree growing by providing financial returns for communities and landowners who successfully grow and maintain trees that sequester carbon.²¹

Conclusion

The climate crisis demands more than symbolic gestures. While tree planting serves as a powerful call to action and raises awareness, it is merely the first step. For Kenya to truly leverage the power of trees in its fight against climate change, the focus must decisively shift from “tree planting” to “tree growing.” This requires a comprehensive approach that prioritizes the long-term survival and health of trees through sustained nurturing, robust policy frameworks, adequate financial allocation for post-planting care, and genuine empowerment of local communities and youth.²² By fostering a culture of custodianship and integrating innovative, context-specific solutions, Kenya can move beyond mere seedlings to cultivate thriving forests that deliver tangible and lasting benefits for both people and the planet. The time to grow, not just plant, is now.