In an effort to reduce effects of climate change, West Pokot County has been making notable advancements in its endeavours to increase tree cover and reduce carbon emissions by 32 percent by the year 2032.
On Thursday, a tree planting campaign at Kapenguria Division Forest Station, within Kapenguria constituency, resulted in the planting of 21,000 trees.
The tree planting initiative aligns with President William Samoei Ruto’s pledge to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 and reduce carbon emissions by 32 percent within the same timeframe.
Speaking during the launch of the long rains tree planting exercise at Kapenguria forest station in Kaprech village, West Pokot County, County Forest Conservator Benjamin Kore emphasised the importance of planting trees in the forest to increase tree cover and reduce carbon emissions.
He emphasised that the tree planting initiative was launched due to the absence of trees in the forest and the presence of invasive species that were causing disruption to the ecosystem.
He thanked organisations such as Perur Ray of Hope Organisation, International Tree Foundation, and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) for the donation of tree seedlings.
He said that invasive plants tend to spread and disturb ecosystems in natural areas like forest preserves, ultimately out-competing native plants and disrupting the ecosystem’s balance adding that invasive plants possess the capability to swiftly adjust to new surroundings, reproduce rapidly, and harm the native species, ecosystems, property, or economy of the area.
To address the issue, Mr. Kore stated the need to remove invasive tree species and replace them with native trees such as elgon tick and jamun tree, among others.
He mentioned that the Perur Ray of Hope Organization, along with the International Tree Foundation, provided 20,000 tree seedlings for planting at the Kapenguria Division Forest Station, and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) donated 1000 tree seedlings for planting at Karas government forest.
Mr. Kore explained that the region served as a crucial water catchment area, supplying water to neighbouring communities and contributing to the Nzoia River, Kerio Valley, and Lake Victoria.
‘‘The Kenya Forest Services (KFS) has not encountered significant challenges in their operations because of a positive relationship with the local community in their conservation and protection efforts,’’ Mr. Kore noted.
He commended the local community for their active role in forest conservation and urged them to continue with their efforts.
Kapenguria Division Assistant County Commissioner Ms. Ruth Wachera urged residents to consider planting fruit-bearing trees in their homesteads in addition to native trees in the forest as part of an agro-forestry programme.
She also emphasised the importance of actively protecting the forest by reporting any tree destruction to Kenya forest officers.
Wachera further advised residents to participate in tree planting initiatives whenever called upon.
Highlighting the significance of Kapkanyar forest as a water source for Kerio and Nzoia rivers, she encouraged planting more native trees in the region to ensure sustainable water supply.
Wachera stressed that tree planting in the forest is just the beginning, and residents should also plant trees at home, especially fruit and wood trees, to promote environmental conservation through a forestry growth initiative.
Caroline Menach, who serves as the St. Elizabeth Girls Morpus Secondary School principal and the director of Perur Ray of Hope Organisation, expressed her gratitude to the residents of Kaprech and the Kenya forest officials for taking the time to initiate tree planting during the rainy season.
She emphasised the importance of protecting forests by planting more trees to maintain a healthy environment.
She noted that by planting trees, the forest cover is enhanced, contributing to food security and improved livelihoods.
She disclosed that Perur Ray of Hope has partnered with the International Tree Foundation (ITF) to restore the depleted forest cover by planting native trees.
Menach highlighted the need for rehabilitating the forest with native trees that have been lost.
She noted that at the tree planting exercise in the forest, they used strip planting with the aim of replacing the missing trees in the forest.
She noted that tree planting plays a crucial role in combating climate change, with a target of planting over 1.5 million trees in the county.
The teacher commended the Kenya forest officials for actively involving communities in tree planting and providing education and empowerment to emphasise the importance of forest cover.
She noted that the collaborative effort between Perur Ray of Hope, International Tree Foundation, and the government aims to increase forest cover and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
She mentioned the recent floods in Nairobi and landslides in West Pokot as examples of the effects of climate change, emphasising the need for preventive measures.
Menach was honoured with the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) and the Head of State’s Commendation (HSC) a couple of years ago for her contribution to community development initiatives.
By Anthony Melly
