Kenya to Host 2029 IUFRO World Congress: Africa’s First Step Onto the Global Forestry Stage

Nairobi, Kenya – In a historic win, Kenya will host the 27th International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO) World Congress in 2029, the first time the event will be held on African soil. The decision signals not just international recognition of Kenya’s leadership in forestry research and biodiversity conservation, but also Africa’s rising voice in global climate discourse.

From Margins to the Main Stage

The IUFRO World Congress, convened every five years, attracts thousands of scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders from over 120 countries. For decades, Africa remained a participant but not a host. Now, with Nairobi as the chosen venue, the continent is being acknowledged as a serious player in forestry science and sustainable development.

“This is Africa’s moment to show the world that sustainable development is achievable through science, innovation, and partnerships,” said Jane Njuguna, Director of the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI).

A Journey Through Kenya’s Forest History

Kenya’s forests have endured a turbulent past:

• Colonial deforestation and land alienation uprooted communities and cleared vast tracts of woodland for agriculture and settlement.

• By the early 2000s, forest cover had fallen to below 6%, prompting national concern.

• The late Prof. Wangari Maathai’s Green Belt Movement became a global symbol of grassroots reforestation, inspiring millions.

• In recent years, government campaigns—including a target to grow 15 billion trees by 2032—have marked a new era of ecological renewal.

The 2029 congress will provide a global platform to showcase this trajectory—from degradation to restoration—and highlight community-driven conservation as a Kenyan export to the world.

Science, Innovation, and Partnerships

The successful bid was the result of collaboration among KEFRI, the Ministry of Environment, the Kenya Forest Service, CIFOR-ICRAF, the Green Belt Movement, and other partners.

Environment Cabinet Secretary Dr Deborah Barasa called Kenya an “oasis of biodiversity”, noting that the congress will spotlight innovations such as:

• Dryland forestry models for arid and semi-arid regions.

• Seed technology and genetic diversity to boost resilience.

• Forest landscape restoration as a tool for carbon sequestration.

• Nature-based solutions that balance conservation with livelihoods.

Economic Stakes: Carbon, Jobs, and Green Industry

Beyond science, the congress is a magnet for investment. Kenya expects to leverage the event to:

• Attract capital for carbon credit markets, offering communities income while restoring degraded ecosystems.

• Promote value-added wood processing industries to reduce reliance on raw timber exports.

• Stimulate green jobs in eco-tourism, renewable energy, and forest-based enterprises.

The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has urged the government to offer tax incentives that would encourage private sector participation in forest restoration and bio-economy projects.

Africa’s Voice in Climate Negotiations

Kenya’s hosting of the congress comes at a critical moment. Globally, forests are central to meeting the Paris Agreementtargets, yet Africa—home to the Congo Basin, the world’s second-largest rainforest—has often struggled to assert its priorities.

By 2029, Nairobi will be a stage where African experts can argue for fairer financing, stronger recognition of community land rights, and expanded investment in restoration.

Honouring Wangari Maathai’s Legacy

The congress will inevitably highlight the work of Wangari Maathai, Africa’s first female Nobel laureate. Her vision of community-led reforestation not only transformed Kenya’s landscapes but also embedded environmental stewardship into the nation’s political consciousness.

Hosting the IUFRO Congress is widely seen as a continuation of her legacy—placing Kenya at the intersection of science, activism, and global policymaking.

Looking Ahead

As 2029 approaches, Kenya’s challenge will be to convert international recognition into domestic transformation. The government has pledged to use the congress to accelerate regional cooperation, support community forest management, and push for Africa’s central role in the global climate agenda.

For Kenya, the congress is more than an event. It is a statement of intent: that a nation once defined by deforestation can now define the future of global forestry.