The government has rolled out a policy to eradicate invasive plant species in arid and semi-arid areas, Ministry of Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has revealed.
The CS, speaking in Doldol, Laikipia, North Sub County, during the commemoration of World Desertification Day yesterday, which is normally marked on June 17 annually, said that invasive species were a major challenge and the government was keen on eradicating them.
“There is a strategy already in place, and we are going to move into a fully-fledged policy on how to deal with invasive species since, apart from Mathenge and opuntia, there are many others which pose challenges,” said the CS.
Tuya pointed out that some invasive species like cactus, commonly known as Opuntia strica and Mathenge, could be eradicated by turning them into a product that could support different value chains.
“We are focusing on utilising this invasive species by turning, for instance, opuntia into animal feed, the same as prosofis (mathenge), which supports a lot of value chains. If we approach it from different dimensions, we will be able to deal with them and at the same time add value,” added CS Tuya.
The CS said they would eradicate the invasive plants, which occupy hundreds of acres in Laikipia County and have left a trail of destruction to both wildlife and livestock keepers, through joint efforts after the implementation of the policy, which is already in the cabinet for review.
Additionally, CS Tuya noted that all donor resources to the State would be channelled at the grassroots level, aimed at combating climate change and empowering communities.
“My ministry has been on the front line in advancing environmental stewardship. Key to the initiatives have been policies, strategies, plans, and on-ground activities aimed at restoring and safeguarding our mother nature from wanton land degradation,” said the CS.
At the same time, on the issue of desertification, this year’s theme is ‘’United for Land. Our Legacy, Our Future.” Tuya said that global trends indicated that land degradation and drought, exacerbated by unsustainable human actions, were increasing rapidly.
“The land degradation assessment report of 2016 by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, which is the most comprehensive land degradation study, provided that about 91 per cent of our country was experiencing some form of land degradation, with about 64 per cent experiencing high degradation and 27 per cent experiencing severe degradation,” pointed out the CS.
Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu reiterated that invasive species had affected livelihoods, including land degradation, and that eradicating them was important.
The National World Desertification Day was this year marked in Laikipia and aimed at raising awareness on how to conserve the environment and prevent land degradation, with about 20 exhibitors showcasing innovations on conservation.
The CS was accompanied by his Principal Secretary, Environment, Dr. Festus K. Ng’eno, and Wildlife counterpart Silvia Museiya, Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere, and Laikipia County Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha, among others.
By Muturi Mwangi
