Greens of Africa Foundation is on a mission to plant 35 million trees to increase the forest cover.
The conservation organisation has already planted five million trees in the last five years.
This year, the organisation has partnered with the Kenya Defence Forces and Equity Bank under the Environmental Soldier Programme, to plant one million trees during the long rains.
Greens of Africa Foundation CEO Jedidah Wanyeki said the organisation empowers communities by assisting them to start income-generating activities, such as tree nurseries. It then buys seedlings from them.
She spoke in Wireless, Uyombo, in Kilifi county where they planted more than 70,000 mangrove seedlings, which they bought from Mida Creek Conservation Community.
“My organisation and Equity Bank support communities to acquire beehives to boost their incomes,” she said.
The CEO said the impact of working with the KDF is great because soldiers look after the trees they grow, leading to high survival rate.
Wanyeki said Equity Bank works with community organisations to ensure the seedlings they produce are bought.
Malindi Equity Bank branch manager David Mungai said the sponsorship is aimed at supporting the government’s programme of increasing the country’s tree cover.
“Equity Bank has planted more than 25 million trees. We are looking forward to achieving our target of 35 million tree seedlings,” he said.
Mungai said in Wireless, the Equity Bank Malindi and Mtwapa branches have partnered with Sita Umoja Conservation Group and donated 200,000 mangrove seedlings.
Edward Kitole from Mida Creek Conservation Community hailed Greens of Africa Foundation, the KDF and Equity Bank for supporting their conservation initiatives and pledged to ensure all seedlings planted are taken care of.
“Mangroves are important to the ecosystem as they are good breeding grounds for marine species, they also protect land from being eaten up by the sea and help in honey production,” he said.
Kithole said Mida Creek Conservation Community has planted more than 40,000 mangrove tree seedlings since the beginning of this year. The target is to plant one million trees through the various conservation groups under the MCCC.
Mida Creek Conservation Community is an umbrella organisation with more than 30 conservation CBOs working under the Watamu and Sokoke Community Forest Association (CFAs).
