The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has initiated a biosafety tree garden program in institutions to help in promoting environment conservation and increase tree and forest cover in the country.
Speaking during the planting of 5000 tree seedlings across different schools in Busia County on Friday, Western region NBA lead Dr. Joseph Odongo said the concept of biosafety gardens in school will also help in fostering learning other than environment conservation.
“We want the learners to have that knowledge on how to care for the environment at the early stages so that they can grow to understand its importance. The current generation needs to have the knowledge and concept including the name of a tree and its importance to a certain environment. “
Odongo added that all the tree species planted will be labelled with scientific and a common name and even a local importance of that tree according to the culture indicated.
“We will also provide the scientific background including if the tree is for a medicinal purpose,” he said.
He urged many schools to embrace the model to continue nurturing and caring for the environment.
“We have started with three schools in Busia, which are Busende primary and junior secondary school with 1500 trees, Muyafwa primary and junior secondary school with 2000 trees while St Mary’s Mundika high school has received 1500 trees. The trees are both indigenous and exotic, fruit and medicinal trees. We want many schools to adopt this model so that together with learners we can nurture our environment” he said
The official further said the initiative will help to address issues of climate change, adding that the involvement of several stakeholders including the forestry department, teachers, learners and even administration is aimed at ensuring there is continuity and proper monitoring of this initiative.
Busia Municipality Assistant County Commissioner Calvin Monare said the drive will also help to ensure the country attain the 15 billion trees to be planted by 2032.
“Through such initiatives, we will attain our target. We are also encouraging these learners and even teachers and the public to engage in tree adaptation initiatives as this will raise the survival rate of our trees.”
Busia Sub-County Forester Seth Onyango said there is a need for adaptation of the initiative by many schools to promote tree cover in Busia County.
“Currently as the county we are at 8.3% tree cover which is still low. We are targeting to reach 30% by 2032 and this calls for more commitment and planting and maintaining of many trees. We will also be working closely with the schools to ensure the trees survive. We are also encouraging our learners to ensure they carry home the knowledge they get by planting trees” he said.
Muyafwa secondary school principal, Alasa Keneth said the planted trees will have much benefit to the learners and even other creatures like birds for shelter other than helping to attract rainfall.
“This is an important initiative to us because a big space in our compound has been lacking trees. These trees will provide shade for our learners, and those which produce fruits will be helpful to our diet. When these learners experience a change in environment at school, they will automatically practice the same at home and this will help to conserve the environment,’ he said.
His sentiments were echoed by St Mary’s Mundika High school principal Bernard Nyongesa who said the trees will help learners to understand the different species available in the country.
“We are always ready to plant trees when we get them. Sometimes the challenge has been getting the seedlings. We have been encouraging our students to plant trees even at home. We have been planting trees but we still have a lot of space for many trees. Our students who take agriculture have been planting trees for the last two years as their project” he said.
By Salome Alwanda and Rodgers Omondi
