Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has launched the Strengthening Forest Management for Improved Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Resilience in the Southern Rangelands of Kenya project.
The four-year project worth Sh700 million was launched at Enoomparbali Primary School in Mosiro Ward, Narok County, and is expected to benefit the Mosiro and Kajiado residents.
Ms. Tuya said the project is financed by the Global Environment Facility 7th Cycle (GEF-7) and will be implemented by Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the International Union of Nature (IUCN) in the two counties.
“The project is community-centered, with the support of all other agencies. It should be very impactful to the residents. I want to confirm that it will be implemented as planned,” she said.
She reiterated that NEMA will be working with other government agencies like the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), the Kenya Forest Research Institution (KEFRI), and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) to implement the project.
“One of the biggest components of the project is ecosystem restoration. We want to set up massive modern nurseries in Kajiado and Narok counties where the community can easily assess the tree seedlings,” she said.
The CS, who hails from Narok County, said they have set up a protection plan to protect nurseries, which includes fencing and continuous water supply.
“The project will not be impactful if we do solve the water problem, which is the key challenge to the people in the county. This is because we have to be responsible to the current needs of the communities,” he said.
The CS also called on environmental stakeholders to identify and fence all wetlands and water catchment areas in the counties.
“We need to have sufficient community engagement for communities to identify what is a priority. When we talk about diversification of livelihood, then we must demonstrate this so that if we tell the community that climate change cannot support our traditional ways of doing things, they will understand what we mean,” she said.
Also present during the launch were NEMA Chairman Emilio Mugo, Narok Deputy Governor Tamalinye Koech, and Narok County Commissioner Kipkech Lotiatia, among other local leaders.
Commissioner Lotiatia asked the chiefs to sensitise the residents about the project through the barazas so that they could embrace the culture of conserving the environment.
By Ann Salaton
