Nandi County Government has in partnership with Green Belt Movement, launched a massive campaign to conserve Kiptangus forest in Nandi County by planting 92,000 indigenous tree seedlings.
Nandi Forest Conservator Denis Kerengo said Kenya Forest Service is closely working with Community Forest Association to ensure working co-existence between the community and government forests for the purpose of protecting trees and other diversity.
Speaking during a public participation exercise to educate locals on the importance of planting trees, Kerengo urged them to cultivate the habit of planting trees in degraded areas to protect environment and water catchment areas.
He said his organization is partnering with the community and Community Based Organisations to ensure trees planted are protected to maturity.
“Trees are vital to our existence because they provide us with oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Let us practice planting trees even without being told by the government or leaders,” he said
The Forest Conservator noted that KFS has groups which are producing seedlings in their tree nurseries to meet the high demand adding that the County has a target of planting 171 million trees in the next five years to achieve 40% tree cover.
“Since our target for tree planting is very high, we are going to expand the groups that are producing seedlings to meet the demand because Kenya Forest Service alone cannot supply the seedlings that are required. We are also encouraging individual farmers to have tree nurseries in their compound,” he said
Officials from Green Belt Movement asked the locals not to graze their animals in areas which have been planted with tree seedlings.
By Linet Wafula
