Fully support your comments on the economic value of eucalypts (acacias and grevilleas) in Kenya and east Africa more generally. You are correct in observing that eucalypts have very high water use efficiencies (viz wood produced per unit of water transpired).

In Ethiopia recently, a country which has suffered massive loss in native forest cover since mid last century, I observed the importance of exotic eucalypts, acacias, grevilleas in providing habitat and food for the country’s diverse but highly threatened birdlife.

Around your Linda’s mums place I saw there were quite a few of the native Prunus africana. I reckon this tree can grow quickly in Kenyan highlands if given a little care in first year — perhaps a commercial rotation of 15 years to provide income (bark for medicine and timber from main bole) and fuelwood from branches. This is also an excellent habitat tree for native wildlife.

Cheers,

Lex