It seems Kenya is getting serious with its drone integration efforts in environmental conservation and restoration; with latest reports from the country suggesting that the government is exploring the use of drone technology to accelerate environmental restoration in its ambitious target of growing fifteen billion trees by 2032.
Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa said her government was seeking to invest in innovative technologies to improve the efficiency and scale of reforestation efforts, particularly in degraded and hard-to-reach parts of the country.
Barasa made the remarks on the sidelines of her talks with officials from Fahari Aviation Limited, a Kenya Airways subsidiary specialising in drone technology, on the potential use of unmanned aerial systems in tree-growing programmes.
Tree planting drones have been known to be really effective in forestry restoration efforts in several parts of the world, combining automated flight missions, AI, and engineered seed pods to reforest degraded land up to ten times faster and 70 percent cheaper than traditional hand-planting.
The drones can scan terrain using LiDAR to identify optimal micro-sites, before shooting biodegradable pods containing seeds, nutrients, and moisture directly into the ground.
During the process, the drones first use advanced mapping sensors and imaging to survey the topography, identifying ideal planting spots while avoiding rocks and standing water.
After that comes the custom seed pods distribution. The seeds are encased in nutrient-rich, biodegradable capsules that provide fertiliser and protect the seed until environmental conditions are right for germination.
The drones would then follow pre-programmed flight paths to deploy these pods with extreme precision over vast or inaccessible terrains.
Barasa’s discussions with Fahari Aviation focused on deploying drones to disperse seedballs produced by Seedballs Kenya in inaccessible landscapes where conventional tree-planting methods are difficult and costly.
She indicated that her ministry was also exploring a strategic partnership with the drone services company to harness drone technology in expanding the country's environmental restoration initiatives.
According to the ministry, the proposed collaboration would improve the speed and reach of seed distribution while enhancing the effectiveness of large-scale reforestation programmes.
The initiative is expected to complement ongoing efforts to restore degraded ecosystems, increase forest cover and strengthen Kenya's resilience to the impacts of climate change.
"The partnership will significantly fast-track the distribution of seedlings and support the achievement of the ambitious 15 billion tree-growing agenda," the ministry said in a statement.
Fahari Aviation was represented at the meeting by Commercial Manager Kagwiria Mbiti and Henton Kagiri, who discussed how the company's drone solutions could support the ministry's conservation objectives.
The government has identified technology and innovation as key enablers in meeting its environmental and climate commitments, including reversing deforestation, restoring degraded landscapes and enhancing biodiversity conservation.
After the meeting, Fahari Aviation released the following statement.
“Yesterday, our Commercial Services Manager, Ms. Kagwiria Mbiti and Mr. Henton Kagiri, Operations Manager, had the privilege of meeting Dr. Deborah Barasa, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, to explore how innovative drone technology can support Kenya's environmental restoration agenda.
“The engagement focused on the potential of leveraging Fahari Aviation's drone capabilities to enhance the dispersal of seedballs, particularly across hard-to-reach, degraded, and inaccessible landscapes. By integrating advanced aerial technologies with nature-based restoration solutions, we can significantly improve the scale, precision, and efficiency of reforestation efforts.
“The discussions also highlighted opportunities for strategic collaboration aimed at accelerating tree-growing initiatives and supporting Kenya's ambitious goal of restoring forest cover and strengthening climate resilience. Drone technology offers a transformative approach to environmental conservation by enabling faster deployment, improved accessibility, and data-driven monitoring of restoration projects.
“At Fahari Aviation, we are committed to using innovation to create meaningful impact beyond aviation, supporting sustainable development and environmental stewardship across the country. We look forward to fostering partnerships that will help accelerate ecosystem restoration and contribute to a greener, more resilient Kenya.”
Kenya's fifteen billion tree-growing programme is a flagship national initiative aimed at increasing forest cover, restoring ecosystems, protecting water catchment areas and contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.