Eucalyptus trees do well in agro-ecological areas such as the lowlands and the mountainous highlands.
The trees are known for their many uses ranging from firewood, building materials, transmission poles, and timber among others.
However, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) regulates the planting of eucalyptus trees because of their effects on the environment.
NEMA, a body tasked with taking care of the environment, banned the planting of eucalyptus trees along the riparian areas or shorelines to a distance of at least thirty meters from the highest ever recorded flood level.
In effect of that directive, any eucalyptus trees under thirty meters from the riverbanks were ordered to be removed in order to preserve water sources.
The authority also banned the planting of the eucalyptus trees below six meters from road reserves and common boundaries.
What that essentially means is the fact that this type of tress, which is among the most commonly used, should not be planted in shared boundaries, unless it is as stated – six meters away.
“This Restoration is drafted from the Environment Management and Coordination (Amendment) Act 2015 and the subsequent regulations,” read part of the NEMA statement that gave the outlines.
According to the Kenya Forest Service, this species of tree should not be planted near buildings.
The eucalyptus trees' roots’ are also known to grow metres away from the stem. The branches can also break off easily.
This gives grounds for pressing charges against you in the event you planted a eucalyptus near a neighbhour's buildings or border and they end up suffering its effects.
On the flip side, eucalyptus trees do well in controlling soil erosion, and can also be planted in waterlogged areas in order to help drain the excess waters, and marginal lands as well.
In 2020, the then Environment and Forestry Cabinet Sectary Keriako Tobiko ordered the removal of all eucalyptus trees planted near Enapuiyapui wetland, Nakuru County.
President William Ruto Government seeks to plant at least 15 billion trees by 2032 to mitigate the effects of climate change.
In its National Forest Assessment Report 2021 released in June 2022, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) stated that the country's tree cover had hit 12.13 per cent.
NEMA is a national was established in 2002 with the sole objective of “supervising and coordinating environmental activities and serving as the main national body to implement environmental policies in all sectors within the country”.
