The University of Nairobi held its Annual Tree Planting and Growing Initiative at Upper Kabete Campus, bringing together staff, students, and partners such as Safaricom PLC, Kenya Forest Service, and Kenya Defence Forces to promote climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable land restoration. The initiative emphasized a shift from simply planting trees to ensuring their survival, with participants trained at the Kantaria Agricultural Technology & Innovation Centre (KATIC) on proper species selection, planting techniques, and post-planting care. A total of 10,500 seedlings, including indigenous and fruit trees, were donated to support the University’s annual target of planting 130,000 trees in line with Kenya’s national goal of growing 15 billion trees.
Stakeholders highlighted that the success of restoration efforts depends on high survival rates, species diversity, and long-term ecosystem benefits such as soil stability and water retention. Since 2022, collaboration with the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation has achieved over 80% survival rates for more than 10,000 planted trees through structured training and monitoring. University leadership underscored the role of institutions in advancing sustainability through research, innovation, and partnerships, including the integration of AI in climate-smart agriculture. Overall, the initiative reinforces the importance of collective responsibility, continuous care, and knowledge-driven approaches in restoring ecosystems and building environmental resilience.
