The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has opened a Sh75 million GreenZones Development Support Project II Resource Centre at its headquarters in Nairobi, strengthening efforts to enhance forest conservation, institutional development and environmental sustainability.
The facility, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), was officially commissioned on Tuesday by Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Alex Lemarkoko during a ceremony attended by government officials, development partners and faith leaders led by Africa Inland Church (AIC) Presiding Bishop Rt. Rev. Abraham Mulwa.
Lemarkoko said the resource centre comes at a critical time when KFS is undergoing significant transformation through increased staffing, improved ranger training and expanded responsibilities in forest management and restoration.
“Kenya Forest Service is undergoing an extremely unique period,” said Lemarkoko, noting that the institution’s workforce has grown from about 3,000 to more than 6,000 employees.
He said the increased workforce has been accompanied by improved ranger training and recruitment of technical officers and cadets to strengthen the country’s capacity in managing forest resources.
The CCF said KFS is leading efforts to achieve Kenya’s national target of attaining 30 per cent tree cover by 2032 through expansion of tree nurseries and production of quality seedlings for restoration programmes across the country.
He added that the agency has strengthened partnerships with government institutions, development organisations and communities to accelerate forest restoration and promote sustainable environmental conservation.
Lemarkoko commended the African Development Bank for supporting infrastructure development, forest restoration initiatives and livelihood programmes targeting communities living near forests.
He said the partnership has contributed to improved conservation outcomes while supporting household incomes among communities dependent on forest ecosystems.
The CCF also announced that KFS is finalising a Memorandum of Understanding with the African Inland Church to provide chaplaincy services for staff, saying the partnership will enhance employee welfare and support the institution’s conservation mandate.
He urged Kenyans, especially young people, to embrace tree growing and understand the importance of protecting forests for current and future generations.
“We have agreed to plant trees across the country because our young people must understand why we grow trees, how they benefit from them and the role they play in conserving the environment,” he said.
AIC Presiding Bishop Rt. Rev. Abraham Mulwa challenged KFS to strengthen public awareness campaigns on forest conservation, saying access to information is essential in encouraging communities to protect natural resources.
“Please give people the opportunity to understand how to protect, keep and maintain our forests. When information is shared, people become part of the solution,” Mulwa said.
The bishop encouraged Kenyans to protect trees and the environment, noting that forests play a vital role in supporting human health, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
The commissioning of the facility also marked the dedication of the new resource centre, which replaced an earlier building that was destroyed by fire three years ago.
KFS Commander Mohamed Adam Mohamed thanked the government, AfDB and KFS management for supporting the reconstruction of the facility, saying it would serve as an important centre for staff training, environmental education and conservation programmes.
He said the centre would enhance the capacity of KFS officers while providing a platform for knowledge sharing and strengthening forest management initiatives.
The opening of the resource centre comes ahead of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, with KFS renewing its call for Kenyans to plant and protect trees across all ecosystems.
By Zipporah Odionyi and Sharon Njeru
