Pupils from primary schools in Bungoma Central Sub- county, on Friday, planted over 5,000 tree seedlings in an event to mark Mazingira Day.
The seedlings, most of which were fruit trees, were distributed to various schools in an exercise that was held at Chebukaka Girls Primary School.
The Principal Secretary (PS), State Department for Industry, Dr. Juma Mukwhana, pointed out the need for the area residents to plant trees, as they create a good environment to live in and have medicinal value, alongside producing wood for timber and domestic use.
Dr. Mukhwana, who led residents and hundreds of pupils in the tree planting exercise, said that trees played a role in the culture and national heritage and that it was important that residents plant enough trees to meet the target tree cover of the county of 30 percent by 2032.
He said that Forest officers trained the pupils on how to plant the seedlings and that all the areas where the seedlings were planted will be secured to avoid destruction from livestock.
Dr. Mukwhana said it was important that the pupils take up tree planting seriously, saying that the fruits, once ready, will also be used to add to the nutrition of the pupils.
The Bungoma County Forest Conservator, Mr. Eric Abungu, said Bungoma County has the target of planting 19.37 million seedlings in a year and that the tree cover was at 12.13 per cent.
He said that the County has 1,060 primary schools and that each of the schools was targeting to plant 2,000 fruit trees to mark Mazingira Day, which will total over two million seedlings that will contribute to the national target of 100m seedlings nationally.
This year’s Mazingira Day, “Citizen- centric tree growing and Environmental stewardship” focuses on the community and the role they play in tree planting and care.
He appealed to stakeholders and the community to come out in large numbers and plant trees not only in the farms but also along riverbanks, degraded areas and urban centres and to ensure that the seedlings survive to maturity.
Bungoma County Commissioner Thomas Sankei, Bungoma County Director National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Vincent Mahiva, nominated Senator Consolata Wakwabubi and stakeholders in the environment management and conservation sector attended the event.
By Tahiri Tesina and Catherine Nyongesa
