Cabinet Secretary for environment, forestry and climate change Aden Duale has said the national government is determined to surpass the ten-year target of planting 15 billion trees by the year 2032.
Mr. Duale has urged all citizens, regardless of age, to adopt the tree-planting culture to preserve and protect biodiversity in the country.
Speaking at Kibiri forest block, the CS an extension of the tropical Kakamega rainforest on the inspection tour of the ongoing fencing which is funded by the Netfund, the Rhino Ark, Kenya Forest Service and the Kenya Wildlife Service.
He pledged that the government would degazette 500 hectares of the forest land to settle the people living there after being moved from Vokoli and Mbale areas in 1984 to pave the way for establishment of public buildings and amenities.
Duale gave preference for fruit trees for the realization of food and nutritional security, assuring the residents that the long wait for the title deeds would be over in two months’ time as the cabinet resolution on the same is in the offing.
The CS, who was accompanied by Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo and a host of national as well as county government officers, proceeded to Maragoli South ward where he led the planting of 15,000 seedlings in a bid to restore the Maragoli forest.
The minister said they are calling for mainstreaming of tree-planting during all the public functions and that he intends to meet the Council of Governors (CoG) to chart ways of ensuring each devolved unit meets its target of trees to be planted.
On his part Dr. Ottichilo said he was the first among his peers to operationalize the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA), World Bank funded programme that involves setting up of ward-based committees to oversee the tree-planting.
He disclosed that they have exceeded the annual target of 1.3 million as so far 4.6 million trees have been planted in the past two years.
Dr. Ottichilo added the efforts to return Maragoli forest to its old glory are going to bear fruits soon with the sustained reforestation from his administration and partners.
By Sammy Mwibanda
