West Pokot County is targeting to plant 200,000 trees during this year’s Mazingira Day celebrations as part of the government’s efforts to increase tree cover and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Preparations for the October 10 event are underway, with stakeholders holding an initial planning meeting to coordinate activities and mobilise communities for the exercise.
Chairing the meeting on behalf of County Commissioner David Saruni, Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) Joseph Njuguna called on the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) and other partners to support the mobilization drive to ensure the success of Mazingira Week.
The ACC, Njuguna, said tree planting was critical to the region’s environmental conservation efforts, noting that the exercise would contribute to addressing the effects of climate change.
“NGAO should actively engage in broader mobilization so that we meet the target for that day and also this financial year’s target of 1.9 million trees. We should leave a mark even when we get transferred to other places,” said Njuguna.
He urged government departments assigned specific responsibilities during Mazingira Week to work closely together to ensure the planned activities are successfully implemented.
County Forest Conservator Benjamin Kore said the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) would mobilise tree seedlings locally to support the exercise.
Kore expressed confidence that the celebrations would contribute to improving the county’s tree cover while calling on stakeholders and development partners to collaborate in achieving the set targets.
He announced that the main one-hour tree-planting event would be held at Chepnyal Forest in West Pokot Sub-County following consultations among stakeholders.
The conservator said local communities had expressed willingness to support the restoration of the community forest, which is under the management of the county government.
West Pokot is among 32 counties earmarked for the national tree-planting exercise, which seeks to strengthen environmental conservation and increase the country’s forest cover.
Activities lined up for Mazingira Week include environmental clean-up exercises, tree planting in schools and the establishment of trees in other selected sites across the county.
By Richard Muhambe
