Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Embu station has led other stakeholders including the local community of Mbuvori Location in Embu North Sub-county in planting 17, 500 indigenous tree seedlings in Irangi Forest.
The exercise was part of the forestation tree planting programme for the short rains season, aimed at enabling the county reach its target of planting 1.4 million trees seedlings this year according to County Commissioner Jack Obuo.
He said they were inching closer to one million and was optimistic that by the end of the short rains around January, they will have achieved the target.
Speaking after the exercise aimed at restoring acres of the degraded forest, the county commissioner underscored the importance of planting trees to conserve the environment.
County Conservator Miriam Kamau implored locals to embrace tree planting initiatives as a means to mitigate climate change as well as avert drought.
She said they have enough tree seedlings in their nurseries and called on locals to make good use of the short rains to plant trees in their farms as a way of boosting the country’s tree cover.
“We appeal to our people to take advantage of the rains to plant trees and also ensure they nurture them to maturity,” she said.
County Water CEC Florence Musyoka called on the community living around the forest to conserve it as it was a big catchment for rivers such as Thambana that is the main source of water in the county for agriculture and domestic use.
She said the County Government also has a target of planting 500, 000 trees this year, adding that the plan was on course.
Lastly, Governor Cecily Mbarire distributed 16, 000 pixie oranges seedlings to farmers in Mbeere South Sub-county that will not only assist in increasing tree cover, but also be a source of income for the locals.
By Samuel Waititu
