- KFS is willing to have MOUs with the private sector to adopt forest blocks
- The state needs at least Sh600 billion to enhance tree cover in the next 10 years
The government plans to take advantage of the short rains to grow 500 million trees by the end of the year.
Environment CS Soipan Tuya said yesterday when she presided over the launch of East Africa Breweries 2023 Sustainability Report, titled ‘Accelerated to a Low Carbon World'.
Tuya said her ministry is cognisant of the role that the private sector plays in shaping environmental protection and sustainability.
“I therefore would like to encourage each and every industry here and to other persons in the audience that we jointly continue pushing the boundaries of sustainability, setting new benchmarks, and leading the way towards a more sustainable future for all," she said.
"This as we accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy for the benefit of our generation and generations to come."
Tuya warned that climate change is a global challenge threatening sustainability, peaceful coexistence, and prosperity.
“The accelerating threat of climate change makes it a vivid and lived reality. It is no longer a distant threat but an ongoing one," she said.
"This therefore raises the urgency of global commitment to climate action, partnerships, and climate transition, underscoring the important role of the private sector.”
Tuya said partnerships between governments and the private sector for sustainability hold immense potential for driving transformative change.
The CS said Kenya Forest Service is willing to have MOUs with the private sector to adopt forest blocks.
She said the country’s national landscape and ecosystem restoration programme has creation of green jobs for youth and women through the establishment of tree nurseries as one of its objectives.
“Since you are already doing sustainability initiatives targeting women and youth, we welcome EABL and other partners to buy seedlings from youth and women groups across the country to help us achieve the dual role of restoration and job creation,” Tuya said.
She urged the brewer to use the seedlings to adopt various forest blocks across the country or donate towards restoration initiatives.
KFS had announced that it has provided more than 18 million seedlings for planting countrywide during the short rains season.
On September 11, KFS chief conservator of forests Alex Lemarkoko said it intends to continue raising more high-quality tree seedlings.
He said the service has received 4,680kg of assorted tree seeds from the Kenya Forestry Research Institute.
"The seeds have already been distributed to KFS tree nurseries countrywide, for production of more than 200 million seedlings for planting from the next tree planting season," Lemarkoko said.
He said besides the tree seedlings available in KFS tree nurseries, there are also tree seedlings available in private tree nurseries and within nurseries operated by other institutions.
"Some 42 million seedlings are currently available in all for planting in the current rainy season," Lemarkoko said.
KFS is the lead agency tasked with the implementation of the government's agenda of attaining 30 per cent tree cover by 2032, up from the current 12.13 per cent.
It protects 6.4 million acres of gazetted forests and another 420 million acres under counties.
The state needs at least Sh600 billion to enhance tree cover in the next 10 years.
Statistics from the state show that the forest cover increased from 5.9 per cent in 2018 to 8.83 per cent in 2021. The national tree cover stands at 12.13 per cent, above the constitutional target of 10 per cent.
Results generated from the National Forest Resources Assessment 2021 show that the country has 5.2 million ha of national forest cover, which represents 8.83 per cent of the total area.
KFS also recently employed 2,700 rangers to bolster conservation and management work adding it is in the process of employing another 600 foresters.
Lemarkoko said as part of the KFS collaborative approach, the organisation is actively supporting and partnering with other institutions by sharing knowledge and resources to amplify collective impact.