The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in partnership with the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) and Kinale Community Forest Association (CFA) planted more than 25,000 trees at Kinale Forest in Kiambu on Wednesday, November 8 ahead of the National Tree Growing Day on Monday, November 13.
KFS described the event as a preparatory exercise ahead of Monday's event, which will take place in all 47 counties across the country. The initiative aims to replenish forests after the recent harvest of mature plantations and to offset carbon emissions.
Francis Kariuki, representing the Chief Conservator of Forests, Ale Lemarkoko, stated that KFS is keen on planting and protecting trees, particularly in deforested or degraded areas. This is a valuable strategy for mitigating climate change and achieving carbon offset goals.
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"Today's tree planting exercise is part of the concerted and accelerated activities across the country and, is in line with the government agenda of planting 15 billion trees by the year 2032," Kariuki asserted.
He called on the CFA members to look after trees as they farm their potatoes and maize through the PELIS system.
Director of Highway Design and Safety at KeNHA Ezekiel Fukwo representing the KeNHA Director General, Kung'u Ndung'u urged Kenyans not only to plant trees but also to nurture them.
In a statement to the media, Kung'u said that the country has been disproportionately affected by the adverse effects of climate change.
"The country and the world as a whole have continued to encounter erratic weather patterns, devastating droughts, and floods, all of which have taken a toll on Kenyans, the environment, as well as the economy," he noted.
He observed that the county's road assets have been vulnerable to climate stressors such as high temperatures, increased precipitation, and flooding.
"KENHA is deliberate about taking a leading role in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, and we have undertaken to plant 20 million trees before 2032," Kung'u said.
Kung'u stated that the organization has since signed a collaboration framework with KFS. The objective is to strengthen the capacities of the two organizations in tree planting and environmental organization.
"We have embarked on tree planting along road reserves and burrow pits and we endeavour to plant 2 million trees every financial year," he said.
The CEC Environment Kiambu county David Kuria called on KFS to broaden the tree planting activities to schools and ECDs.
Present were senior KFS officers from the headquarters, county forest officers, local administration, county government officials, CFA officials, and the local community.
