ReleaseLabs In Action In Kenya During The International Day Of Forests

By Kenya Flying Labs

The United Nations General Assembly declared March 21 as the International Day of Forests in 2012 to honor and promote awareness about the value of all types of forests. In addition, the declaration encouraged governments to organize citizens to carry out activities, such as tree-planting campaigns. These activities are carried out in partnership with governments and other UN organizations like the United Nations Forum on Forests and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The International Day of Forests is an annual event to increase awareness about forests' role in sustaining life. While forests provide habitats for animals, thousands of families in Kenya also depend on forests for survival or livelihood. In addition, forests offer watershed protection, prevent soil erosion, and mitigate climate change. 

One of Kenya Flying Labs' main activities includes tailor-making and implementing projects with local partners across humanitarian sectors. In this light, Kenya Environmental Research Institute (KEFRI) reached out to Kenya Flying Labs in partnership with Seedballs Kenya to demonstrate using technology in reforestation through the ReleaseLabs program—which Kenya Flying Labs is implementing in collaboration with WeRobotics. 

ReleaseLabs is the new arm of the WeRobotics and Flying Labs Network aimed at developing integrated solutions for precision release at scale. It has many successful stories of seed balls, mosquitoes, ladybugs, and mangroves. These systems aim towards providing more benefits to local communities. 

During the event, Kenya Flying Labs engineers Sila Kironji and Mohamed Akasha successfully demonstrated the use of the seeder drone, which uses a seed ball dropping mechanism attached to the industrial platform DJI Matrice 600 pro. The platform can release 2,500 seed balls per hectare. One full charge can seed an area of 0.8 ha. It releases five seed balls per second and is suitable for post-wild-fire restoration, forest regeneration, and afforestation. Cabinet Secretary Dr. Keriako Tobiko and Dr. Jane of KEFRI witnessed the event and applauded the innovative use of technology in Kenya’s reforestation efforts. 

Kenya Flying Labs is now set to conduct a proof of concept in 3 locations in collaboration with KEFRI and Seedballs Kenya to scale the use of the system in Kenya. 

Kenya Flying Labs also looks forward to inviting more international and local partnerships to better our environment and further our technical expertise to solve and support local challenges.