Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary (PS) Stephen Isaboke has led a tree-planting exercise at Chirichiro Comprehensive School in Kisii Central Sub-County, Kisii County, ahead of this year’s Mazingira Day celebrations.
The exercise brought together the local administrators, school officials, students, government officers and political leaders who planted over 2000 tree seedlings around the school.
Speaking to the press at the school premises, Isaboke said the initiative was part of the government’s broader tree-growing campaign, aimed at increasing forest cover and strengthening the country’s resilience to climate change.
The PS noted the government had set a target of growing 15 billion trees across the country by 2032 and urged Kenyans to make tree planting a continuous practice rather than an activity reserved for national celebrations.
“Tree planting should actually be our culture. Whenever you get time and a place, plant a tree because you will be contributing to climate resilience,” said Isaboke.
He observed that deforestation had significantly altered the natural environment in Kisii, saying the region previously had extensive forests and abundant wildlife which gradually disappeared because of the cutting of trees.
The PS added that restoring forest cover was essential in addressing the effects of climate change and safeguarding the environment for future generations.
Isaboke lauded the school administration, community members, government officials and local leaders for supporting the initiative, saying that environmental conservation transcends political affiliations.
“Forestry is a bipartisan issue and not a political one. When you plant a tree, it does not know your political party or persuasion but benefits all of us,” he said.
The Kisii County Forest Conservator William Ojijo said the exercise acted as a build-up activity to the Mazingira Day celebrations at the county, scheduled for October 10 at Nyangweta Forest.
Ojijo highlighted the importance of trees in protecting water sources, supporting food production, improving air quality and maintaining a healthy environment.
He added that Kenya Forest Service was exploring carbon credits as an alternative financing avenue for forest conservation and restoration initiatives.
Ojijo pointed out that Kisii had already grown approximately 35 million trees and was targeting 71 million trees over the next 10 years as part of the national tree-growing campaign.
The Forest Conservator urged residents to take responsibility for environmental conservation by planting and nurturing trees, while encouraging older generations to instill a tree-growing culture among the young people.
“Our environment is our responsibility, and involving young people in environmental conservation would help sustain the initiative for generations to come,” Ojijo said.
On her part, Kisii Central Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Gladys Nyongesa pledged to continue working closely with the local administrators to promote tree growing and contribute to the national target of 15 billion trees.
Nyongesa pointed out that chiefs in the sub-county had embraced the tree-growing initiative and were planting trees every first Friday of the month under a project dubbed ‘Chief Climate Action Day‘.
According to the DCC, the local administrators had so far planted over 250,000 trees since the commencement of the project.
Meanwhile, the State Department for Mining also planted 6000 trees on Wednesday at Nyanchogochi Comprehensive School in Kitutu Central Sub County, as part of its mine-site restoration activities, ahead of the Mazingira Day celebrations.
The initiative, which served as a massive environmental campaign leading up to the national celebrations, focused on rehabilitating degraded landscapes left behind by mining activities.
The Department’s Under Secretary Daniel Obwoge said the exercise was aimed at ensuring the community members understand the importance of tree growing and rehabilitation of mining sites to a better state compared to how the investors found them.
The Mazingira Day celebrations are held on October 10 every year to promote environmental protection, tree growing and public participation in restoring degraded ecosystems.
The national theme for this year’s Mazingira Day, ‘Our environment, our responsibility: collective action for tree growing and environmental stewardship‘, calls on every Kenyan to take personal and collective responsibility for growing and protecting trees towards the 15 billion trees by the year 2032.
By Alfred Misheba and Mercy Osongo
