Kisii County Forest Conservator Safari Opiyo has encouraged the residents of Kisii to plant more indigenous trees to attain 30 percent tree cover by 2032.
Speaking during the National Tree Growing Day exercise at Riana market in Kisii South Sub County, Mr Opiyo noted that despite the county’s tree cover being 26.6 percent, most of the trees were eucalyptus trees.
“Let us refrain from planting eucalyptus trees especially along the water catchment areas as they not only consume large volumes of water but also release poisonous chemicals into the soil and destroy other plants’ lives,” he said.
The Forest Conservator pointed out they had planted indigenous tree seedlings at the tree nursery in Riana market for educational purposes and cautioned the public against encroachment on the area.
Further, Opiyo urged the residents to harvest rainwater during this rainy season to avoid travelling long distances in search of water from the springs.
Speaking at the same event, Kisii South Deputy County Commissioner Grace Ouma noted that some residents were derailing environmental conservation efforts along the riparian reserves by constructing structures along those areas.
She encouraged them to visit her office so they could discuss on how to remove the structures to avoid conflict with the relevant authorities.
This follows a directive from the Ministry of Interior and National Administration that instructed the Regional Commissioners to ensure the immediate marking of riparian boundaries and removal of structures in riparian areas to safeguard lives and property from further destruction by frequent floods.
Kisii County planted 1200 trees to mark the National Tree Growing Day exercise where the County Forest Conservator led various Heads of Departments in planting 1000 trees at Riana market in Kisii South Sub County.
In addition, 200 trees were planted by coffee farmers and officials from Rain Forest Alliance at Nyamache Coffee Framers Cooperative Society premises on the outskirts of Nyamache town.
The government set aside the public holiday for countrywide tree-growing activities and in solidarity with all persons adversely affected by the recent cyclic floods and subsequent droughts.
By Mercy Osongo
