Nairobi — The government is seeking private investment in Kenya's public forests under new rules aimed at boosting revenue and promoting biodiversity.

The Forest Conservation and Management (Concessions on Public Forests) Regulations, 2025, propose a framework for the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to engage private parties in establishing commercial tree plantations on public land through concession agreements.

While concessions are already provided for under the Forest Conservation and Management Act, the Ministry of Environment says their use has been limited due to the absence of supporting subsidiary legislation.

Concessions grant individuals or organisations the right to use a designated area in a national or county forest under long-term contracts.

Existing examples include Kibwezi and Ngare Ndare, which are managed through partnerships between KFS and conservation groups for ecotourism.