The Homa Bay County government has plans to increase forest cover in the region which stands at 3.6 per cent currently by planting more than 50,000 tree seedlings during this rainy season.
This is in line with this year’s World Environment Day held on Wednesday.
The World Environment Day is a global celebration that was developed by the United Nations to create a platform for creating awareness on environmental issues.
Speaking to KNA in his office on Thursday, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in Charge of Water, Environment and Natural Resources, Dickson Nyawinda said his department plans to increase forest cover, adding that by 2022 they will have planted more than 100, 000 tree seedlings.
Nyawinda called on the farmers with seedlings to sell them to the county government so that they could be distributed freely to the residents for planting.
The CECM further encouraged the residents to engage in tree planting to curb the increasing rates of deforestation since it was their responsibility to take care of their environment.
At the same time, Nyawinda added that air pollution was a major threat to the environment.
He explained that the air we breathe has been polluted by industrial activities such emissions from factories, vehicles, firewood burning and lanterns.
Garbage disposals were also among the listed causes of air pollution.
He reiterated that his Ministry was working closely with organisations such as NEMA, Plan Hand in Hand; GTZ, Pathfinders, Dream, KWS, KFS and World Vision to ensure the high environmental standards were maintained in the county.
The officer who was also accompanied by Chief Environment Officer, Stacy Otieno warned livestock owners who allow their animals to roam about in town that they will be arrested and charged.
He revealed that the Ministry of Finance had drafted a bill which is still pending before the county assembly which when passed such livestock owners will be fined.
By Davis Langat/Angeline Adisa
