• Over 250 million seedlings to be planted during the long rains.
• Current cover is 7.2 per cent, while the Constitution envisages at least 10 per cent.
Image: Gilbert Koech
The government has launched a national drive to plant more than 50 million seedlings during the ongoing short rains.
Environment CS Keriako Tobiko on Tuesday said the move is one of the ways in which forest cover will be increased to at least 10 per cent by 2022.
At least Sh48 billion is needed for the campaign that will enable the country to plant at least 1.8 billion trees between now and 2022. And with dwindling resources, the Kenya Forestry Service has been reaching out to different parties to help.
The national forest cover currently stands at 7.2 per cent.
“After the short rains, we will have planted at least 50 million trees before planting another over 250 million during the long rains, it is doable,” Tobiko said at the Lenana block of Ngong forest.
During the launch, Cabinet Secretaries adopted a section of the forest before planting at least 3,000 indigenous seedlings. Charles Keter(Energy), Raychelle Omamo (Defence), Amina Mohamed (Sports), Monica Juma (Foreign Affairs), Margaret Kobia (Public Service) and Jubilee secretary-general Raphael Tuju and Deputy Head of Public Service Wanyama Musiambo attended.
Tobiko said 10 million trees will be planted in the Maasai Mau after the evictions. He said 80 per cent of settlers have been kicked out.
KFS Board chairman Peter Kinyua said a section of the forest has been replaced with indigenous trees. He said there has been a significant increase in the participation and support from different sectors over the past year.
The greening Kenya initiative has been one of the largest seedlings producing entity as it targets to produce 50 million seedlings and rehabilitate 2,471 acres using the existing infrastructure of the Kenya Prisons and the National Youth Service.
“In partnership with KFS, the KDF, through their soldier programme have been allocated Ololua, Kibiko, and Ngong hills forests for rehabilitation,” Kinyua said.
He added that one of the banks is supporting the establishment of tree nurseries to sustain the production of three million seedlings over three years, as well as the rehabilitation of 2,471 acres.
“Equity Foundation, also a strategic partner, has initiated a 35 million tree planting campaign and intends to adopt degraded forest for purposes of restoration. The tree-planting campaign targets the youth.”
Kinyua said Safaricom will rehabilitate 2,471 acres in the Marmanet forest reserve, Laikipia county, and it recently launched a five million tree planting programme.
The Agriculture Development Corporation is in discussion with KFS to put up its 180,000 acres under forest, in addition to establishing tree nurseries.
Others involved in tree planting include counties, East Africa Breweries, PFK East Africa Limited, the National Council for Persons with Disability, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, National Oil, Consolidated Bank, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and embassies.
(Edited by F'Orieny)