The LISTEN project is currently working with VBAs, WCCPCs and WRUAs to establish commercial tree nurseries that will provide a variety of trees to their local communities for environmental restoration and conservation. This is in line with the National government’s initiative of planting 15 billion trees by 2032, a move aimed at reducing greenhouse emissions, stopping, and reversing deforestation and restoring 5.1 million hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes.

The project is working with KEFRI (Kenya Forestry Research institute) and KFS (Kenya Forestry Service) in supporting the groups and associations by engaging in high value tree nursery enterprises helping them tap into this unique opportunity providing employment and income generating opportunities for the members. This will ensure there is sufficient supply of high-quality tree seedlings for the community, contributing to enhanced environmental conservation and improving the function of the local environment.

The tree species focused on are both indigenous and exotic that can grow in the ASAL (Arid and Semi-Arid Land) climatic conditions, have high demand, or market value, and promote agroforestry creating a more diverse, productive, profitable, healthy, and sustainable land-use system e.g., incorporation of fodder trees in pasture lands or neem or fruit trees into farmlands. Also, the project is working with the Zero to Heroes project to introduce Gliricidia sepium trees to the super demos. Gliricidia is an agroforestry tree that is a fast growing, nitrogen fixing shrub and exotic to Kenya.

The trees will be propagated at the super demo sites and commercial tree nurseries where farmers will be educated on their importance and benefits and later sell the trees to farmers to integrate into their farms in the next rainy season.