Ministry of Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary (CS) Soipan Tuya said that the government is in the process of establishing 11 fully fledged seed centres across the country that will be operational by the end of May 2023.
The Cabinet Secretary said the seed centres under the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) will produce both indigenous seeds and fruit tree seeds for propagation across Kenya Forest Service nurseries and Private, and Community Nurseries across the country.
“We are doing our best to meet the seedling demands of the country. To this extent, we have reached out to other Ministries, Departments and Agencies such as Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Defense Forces, Kenya Wildlife Service, the Kenya Police Service, the National Youth Service amongst others, to help with seedling propagation so that we can meet this high demand for seedlings,” said Tuya.
Speaking at Karura forest during a tree planting exercise, Tuya said that they are also working with Members of Parliament through the National Constituency Fund to hire youths within their respective constituencies to raise seedlings in Schools and within their communities, while gaining income from these activities, in line with the Government’s bottom-up agenda, to create green jobs.
“The 15 billion National Tree Growing Restoration campaign is also a major activity to address the challenges of climate change. An estimated 40% of Kenya’s emissions of greenhouse gases is from deforestation and land use change. Kenya is leading by example and has set pace for Africa in the green growth agenda and green industrialization,” explained the CS.
She further said, “Pursuant to our country providing leadership in the continent of Africa on Climate Change action, President Dr. William Ruto in his capacity as the current Chair of the African Union Committee of Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) will host the first ever African Climate Summit in Nairobi from 4th – 6 th September 2023. The running theme of the summit will be to explore a more ecologically responsible green industrialization in Africa and we look forward to a declaration that will state the African Continent position at COP 28, later this year.”
Tuya highlighted that just before the onset of the rains, the country witnessed unprecedented levels of forest fires across various ecosystems and to counter this, the government has provided money to build fire breaks, buy camping gear and firefighting equipment to prepare us for future fire outbreaks.
“Apart from the fires that devastated huge parts of our Forests, we now have reports of rampant illegal logging of Forests, encroachment and other related illegal activities. I am directing the Acting Chief Conservator of Forests to, with immediate effect, activate the multiagency crackdown team, to mount an intense, targeted and sustained crackdown across all Forest Ecosystems in the country to end these illegal activities,” said the CS.
Tuya explained that these activities and reforms are part of the Government’s agenda to raise our Country’s tree cover from the current 12.3% to 30% by the year 2032.
“Following the President’s directive last year, that we should grow 15 billion trees over the next 10 years, as a Ministry, we have put in place and are rolling out a Comprehensive 15 billion National Tree Growing Restoration Strategy,” she said.
The CS thanked Kenyans who have so far come out in large numbers, as individuals, corporates and institutions to respond to this campaign, either by adopting ecosystems, blocks in forests or planting in individual spaces and farmlands.
“We are urging Kenyans to plant trees on their Birthdays, during Holidays, at each and every occasion where it is possible to plant a tree. 15 billion trees sound huge and mind boggling but believe me you, it translates to only 30 trees per Kenyan per year over the next 10 years,” said Tuya.
By Ali Sheikh Mohamed
