The Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Mr. Keriako Tobiko today launched six (6) books during the official opening of the 1st Kenya Commercial Forestry Investment Conference and Expo at KEFRI Headquarters.

The six (6) books launched are entitled: Kenya Commercial Tree Improvement Strategy, Biodiversity Status of Buda Forest, Kenya, Aerial seeding for rehabilitation of degraded forestlands and landscapes in Kenya, Protocol for Aerial seeding of forestlands and landscapes in Kenya, Kenya Commercial Tree Improvement Framework, and Commercial Forestry in Kenya: Status of tree breeding, tree seed sources and seed supply chain and threats from pests and diseases.

Later in the afternoon, the CS Environment and Forestry launched a Solar Heat for Drying Forest Tree Seeds Facility at KEFRI Headquarters in Muguga.

The seed drying technology is the first in the country and in Africa in the forestry sector that has cut down on the cost and time for drying tree seeds, among other benefits.

The project which is a collaboration between Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Brunel University London and Enso Impact has reduced the drying time of seeds from 6 weeks to 3 days and cut down on the expensive electricity cost used previously.