Mainstreaming threatened species into tree planting programs in Kenya

Ensuring that threatened tree species are a core component of tree planting programmes in Kenya, resulting in enhanced in situ conservation for more than 30 globally threatened tree species

Partner: Botanic Gardens Conservation International – Africa Ltd.
Years: 2021-2023

This project aims to bring 30 threatened (VU, EN, CR on the IUCN Red List) and 5 Near Threatened (NT) tree species into forest restoration, enrichment planting, riverine rehabilitation and agroforestry through ongoing tree planting programs in Kenya while also prospecting the potential purchase of additional sites for the long-term in situ conservation for 17 additional threatened tree species.

Cola octoloboides (EN)

This project aims to mainstream threatened tree species into ongoing tree planting programs in Kenya by building the capacity of 150 people from nursery groups and sacred forest communities, to monitor, collect propagation material, sell seeds or grow seedlings of threatened tree species. As a result, 30 threatened and 5 Near Threatened tree species will be brought into forest restoration, enrichment planting, riverine rehabilitation, agroforestry, school projects, and landscaping schemes.

Existing tree planting initiatives will receive training and support to enable them to incorporate a threatened species focus. This project will also investigate the possibility of purchasing 3 sites for the long-term in situ conservation of 17 additional threatened tree species.