Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has launched a tree planting campaign to improve human and environmental health across the coastal county as part of climate change mitigation efforts.
Launching the tree planting campaign at the Kwale main GK prison, Governor Achani said the devolved government targets to plant 29 million trees by 2032 across Kwale.
Accompanied by Lady Justice Addraya Dena of Kwale Environment and Land Court and Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde, Achani disclosed that in the past one and a half years, her administration has successfully planted over 600,000 trees.
The Governor and the environment and land court judge led county and judicial officials, respectively, in planting 1300 trees as a means of tackling environmental issues.
“This initiative is in line with President William Ruto’s directive to plant 15 billion trees by the end of 2030 in order to mitigate the negative effects of climate change,” she said.
Achani stated that the tree planting programme would involve a wide range of tree species, including indigenous and exotic varieties suitable for Kwale’s ecological zone.
The coastal county boss underscored that the trees would reduce carbon emissions, mitigate the effects of flooding and severe droughts, support wildlife, and play a significant role in climate change.
Governor Achani noted that the initiative would not only restore the lost value of nature in Kwale but also remedy the mismanagement of the environment and create a positive impact for posterity.
“I urge the people of Kwale to take advantage of the current rainy season and plant more trees, and I promise my full commitment to this noble cause,” said Achani, adding that the tree planting initiative was geared towards a clean, green, and better environment for all.
Achani, who emphasised the importance of the environmental conservation initiatives in the country, said the devolved government would intensify the push for the national tree planting initiative.
Lady Justice Deya, who used the occasion to sensitise members of the public on court procedures and processes, said the focus of the tree planting exercise was also to enhance dialogue on land and environmental justice.
Justice Deya urged the residents to report cases involving land disputes and those involved in destroying the environment as a way of protecting the trees that are being planted by the county government.
She said there is a dire need to enlighten the people on the dangers of deforestation or the felling of trees, especially those living close to forests and parks.
Deya said the indiscriminate cutting down of trees could spell doom for the environment if remedial measures were not put in place to stem forests from depletion and degradation.
“In Kwale court cases involving environmental matters, the numbers are very low. You want to tell me people are not destroying our environment? Don’t we see people digging quarries arbitrarily? These cases are there, but we tend to keep quiet,” she said, noting that the judiciary would be raising awareness on climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, pollution, and waste.
Deya promised the residents that the land and environmental court will collaborate with all the stakeholders involved in environmental matters in order to sensitise the public on the importance of understanding the law against land and environmental cases.
She urged the residents to actively support the ongoing greening efforts across the country by planting and conserving trees to secure a greener and brighter future for all.
The judge called on all and sundry to support the environmental programme by planting trees in their homes, educational institutions, and communities, noting that every tree counts in the fight against climate change and global warming.
She stressed the judiciary’s commitment to environmental sustainability and proactive measures to protect and enhance the country’s natural resources.
Commissioner Orinde, on his part, underscored the critical role trees play in mitigating the impact of climate change and noted the critical need to preserve the environment for the well-being of humanity.
Orinde called on the residents to desist from cutting down trees indiscriminately for charcoal and embrace the culture of replacing lost trees for the protection of the environment.
The administrator warned that the loss of tree cover and other types of woody vegetation will lead to increased scarcity of a wide range of forest products, environmental degradation, and the loss of biodiversity.
By Hussein Abdullahi
