Environmental conservationists in Mombasa have been urged to keep up the tree-planting initiative that was initiated by the government to increase tree cover in the County.
Speaking during a mangrove tree planting exercise in Tudor Creek, Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Mvita Sub-County Ronald Mwiwawi said that deforestation has occasioned serious environmental problems, especially along the coastline.
Mwiwawi added that areas along the creeks on the island have been turned into unconventional living quarters, with some acting as waste disposal points.
“Deforestation along our coastline has had a tremendous negative effect on the environment. People have turned areas along the creeks into environmentally hazardous areas with some even brewing illicit liquor from there,” said Mwiwawi.
The DCC who had joined the Taita Taveta Wungara social welfare group for the mangrove afforestation noted that they had ear-marked Tudor Creek as it was one of the most affected on the island with an approximate 30 percent destruction of its mangrove cover.
“We have managed to plant 300 trees today to try and salvage the situation at Tudor Creek. As a county, we envisage planting 7.5 million trees in the next decade, a target once achieved will go a long way in preserving our environment,” added Mwiwawi.
He also called on key stakeholders in the County to step up and support social welfare groups and facilitate the acquisition of seedlings to accelerate efforts of tree planting across the County.
Launched on November 13, 2023, the Presidential Programme for Accelerated Restoration of Forests and Rangelands aimed at planting 15 billion trees in the next ten years.
On his part, Taita Taveta Wungara Social Welfare Group Deputy Chairperson Festo Msavarie called on the further strengthening of collaborative efforts between social welfare groups and both the National and County governments in environmental conservation.
He said that it was the responsibility of every citizen to conserve the environment for the benefit of the nation and the posterity of future generations
“As a social welfare group, we have heeded the clarion call by the government to plant trees and conserve our environment. We call upon individuals and social welfare groups across the County to pull together and deliver on this noble duty,” said Msavarie.
By Andrew Hinga
