TARDA TREE PLANTING INITIATIVE FLAG OFF — ROAD TO 15 BILLION TREES BY 2032.

Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority officially launched its December #TreePlantingInitiative at our Headquarters ,the event was marked with the flagging off of the Nairobi team which headed to Baba Dogo for the first planting exercise of the season. The flagging off which was led by the Managing Director Mr.Liban Roba, marked the start of a coordinated, basin-wide effort running across all TARDA stations — with Nairobi taking the lead.

In his remarks, the Managing Director underscored the urgency of basin restoration, emphasizing that forest health directly shapes river stability, community resilience, and the long-term sustainability of the Tana and Athi systems. ”Nairobi sits at just 12% forest cover, and as a critical part of the Athi Basin, restoration here contributes directly to river health, flood control, urban resilience, and cleaner waterways. Planting in Nairobi is more than environmental stewardship — it is strategic basin management.

The Nairobi team with the assistance of the Baba Dogo Community members successfully planted seedlings in the area, focusing on resilient, locally appropriate species aligned to the needs of the Athi ecosystem. This partnership with the community members will ensure that trees are watered and taken care of to ensure a high rate of survival given the on and off rains being experienced in the Country.

As TARDA, we are thankful to our partners present at the Nairobi exercise — Global Peace Foundation Kenya, Dominion Cycling Club, Fresh Life, the Nairobi Rivers Commission and Easy Urban Green Grower for the support, your collaboration amplified the impact. One tree, one community, one basin at a time.