The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) has spent Sh12.8 million on the restoration of the ecosystem in Siaya and Busia counties.
The Commission, through the Adapting to Climate Change Project in the Lake Victoria Basin, has planted over 90,000 trees in the two counties.
LVBC Executive Secretary (ES), Dr. Masinde Bwire, said this year alone, the Commission has supported Busia County in the restoration of the Osipata degraded ecosystem through the planting of over 10,000 bamboo seedlings and the establishment of an indigenous tree nursery in Osipata Village, Teso South Sub County.
In a speech read on his behalf by Principle Administrative Officer Millicent Opiyo during the national tree planting day at Busia Prison, Dr. Bwire said in addition the project has also supported restoration of Odiado Hills in Samia through planting of over 5,000 bamboo and fruit trees.
The Commission, which donated 1,500 tree seedlings for planting at the correctional facility, he said, has adopted a unified regional approach to combat climate change.
This, he added, entailed the use of ecosystem-based adaptation approaches, such as planting indigenous, rapidly growing species of plants that can have an immediate impact on the ground, combined with long-term solutions.
The approach, he said, was incredibly effective at protecting communities from the impacts of climate change, which is negatively impacting livelihoods in the two counties.
“This is an undertaking that reminds all of us of the importance of trees in our social and economic lives. These are efforts to save our EAC region from the devastating effects of Climate Change,” he said.
By Chris Mahandara
