The Kenya Forest Service has distributed 1,000 seedlings to communities in Turkana county ahead of International Forests Day.
The day which will be marked on March 21 will be presided over by Environment CS Soipan Tuya under the theme ‘Forests and Health’.
The exercise which was undertaken in collaboration with Turkana county government led by the county Forest conservator Richard Guya also saw the community sensitized on the presidential directive of planting 15 billion trees to achieve 30 per cent tree cover by 2032.
According to KFS, a total of 200 seedlings were planted at Nadoto Primary School, 200 at Nangitony Primary School and 200 at Nangolekerup Primary.
The exercise also saw 50 seedlings planted at Nadoto Farmers Society office and 50 at the Nadoto health centre.
“These activities are a buildup of the main celebration of IDF which will be presided over by the CS Environment, climate change and forestry Soipan Tuya on March 21,” KFS said.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 21 the International Day of Forests in 2012 to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests.
Countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organise activities involving forests and trees such as tree planting campaigns.
The organisers are the United Nations Forum on Forests and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with governments and other relevant organistions in the field.
According to the UN, several studies have proven that visit to a forest environment lowers blood pressure and pulse rate.
The UN has expressed concern that the world is losing 10 million hectares of forest each year due to deforestation.
