Kenya will begin a National Tree Planting Season Programme which will run for the next few years. The news was disclosed by the Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko, recently at the programme launch in Ngong Forest Reserve.
According to Mr Tobiko, he said that the country will plant 235 million trees by 2022 and each county has been mandated to cultivate at least one million seedlings for each year.
This operation will tilt the country towards the right direction in achieving 13 to 15 per cent forest cover by 2022; which is more than the previously set 10 per cent by 2030, said the Secretary.
“This development is partly in line with the Forest Resources Management and Logging Activities Task Force, which was recently set up by Deputy President William Ruto to protect forests and water catchment areas from degradation,”
“Kenyans are encouraged to go out and plant as many trees as possible this year to help reverse environmental degradation and double our forest cover,” he added.
Therefore, corporates, schools, disciplined forces and individuals, among others, have been urged to corporate with the ministry to bolster a sustained adoption of a tree planting and nurturing culture among the people of Kenya.
“We realise that logging and tree harvesting also contribute to the economy by developing the manufacturing industry”.
“However, we have to ensure a balance between these activities and protecting the environment, to ensure our forests hold,” he said, adding that investors in the sector should be patient as deliberations to amicably resolve the issue continue.
