A recent report has revealed that Kenyans are more worried about deforestation than any other environmental issue, surpassing even climate change.
The report, released by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) on Tuesday, October 28, revealed that 47 percent of Kenyans identify deforestation as their number-one environmental threat, followed by climate change (43 percent) and droughts and floods (40 percent).
The survey, titled 'Ipsos Consumer Research for FSC 2025 Global Report,' was conducted in more than 50 countries globally and involved over 40,000 respondents. It highlighted that Kenya is among the few countries globally, alongside Brazil, Croatia, and India, where forest destruction is a major concern.
Other challenges people are worried about, according to the report, include the drastic loss of plant and animal species, which are strongly linked to deforestation.
"Across 29 markets in which the forestry module was asked, Kenya stands out for its public concern for particular forest-related issues. The survey shows that 47% of Kenyans cite deforestation as a top concern – the highest globally," the report noted.
"Concern for the impact of droughts and floods linked to forest disruption also ranks high at 40%, above the global average (29%). Additionally, 43% of respondents in Kenya recognize the impact of climate change from forest loss, exceeding the global average of 35%," it added.
Globally, younger people are mostly concerned about the loss of natural wilderness, whereas older age groups are most concerned about climate change, droughts and floods, and the destruction of tropical rainforests, according to the survey.
The report went on to spotlight that Kenyans are among the world’s most sustainability-conscious consumers, alongside other Asian Countries such as China, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
The majority of Kenyans involved in the study emphasised the need for independent certification for environmental claims, which are statements made by companies or brands about the positive environmental impact of their products, services, or practices.
Kenya's Forest Cover
As of today, Kenya’s forest cover stands at around 8.8 percent, below the 10 percent target, but the government has stepped up reforestation efforts in recent years.
Months after taking office, President William Ruto's administration launched the National Tree Growing and Restoration Campaign, which aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, restoring more than 10 million hectares of degraded land.
Speaking in the statehouse on Friday, October 10, during Mazingira Day, Ruto said that the government will mobilise 15,000 personnel from the NYS to revive over 300 nurseries in all forests and establish 17 mega nurseries.
According to Ruto, the nurseries will have the capacity to produce two billion seedlings every year for Kenyans to plant.
