Makueni County’s Chief Officer for Environment, Natural Resources, Mining, and Climate Change, Dr. Geoffrey Muthoka, has called on the youth to be at the forefront in planting trees to conserve the environment.
Muthoka said this will help them to inculcate the culture of planting trees, a practice that is aimed at improving degraded environments and conserving them for posterity.
“We, the young people, should understand that trees are not only there to provide shade during hot weather but also know that they are a source of life and offer food and economic opportunities,” he said.
“By involving young people in tree planting early, we ensure they grow up with a sense of responsibility towards environmental matters,” Dr. Muthoka said during celebrations to mark International Day of Forest (IDF) at South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) in Wote town on Friday under the theme “Forest and Food”.
During the exercise, stakeholders from the Red Cross, Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI), Kibwezi Well-Wishers Organisation, Green Belt Movement, Kenya Forest Services and the County Government of Makueni and students from SEKU planted 1,500 tree seedlings.
Among the trees planted were 800 fruit trees, including indigenous trees and other species.
Speaking at the same event, SEKU Director of Wote Campus, Prof. Josphert Kimatu, emphasised the need for special forests in Arid and Semi-Arid areas, for baobab trees, which he highlighted as a valuable resource that brings significant benefits to local communities.
Prof. Kimatu revealed that a baobab forest can do better in Makueni since it produces water that can be used to make porridge and is also rich in vitamins and minerals besides being nutritional.
In dryland forest, Kimatu disclosed that the aspect of forest in dry land remained unexploited due to lack of capacity, saying there was a need for the government and other stakeholders to enhance this in an effort to improve the environment.
“We need to invest in forests to have a future for this country. We can make this country a tourism attraction through dryland forest by growing baobab and Terminalia brownie that is important for carvings and for medicinal value,” he said.
On his part, Makueni County Forest Conservator, Martin Mutie, said it was imperative for the people in the county to grow tree seedlings that are for immediate use, like fruit trees, besides planting others such as indigenous trees, which take a long time to grow.
“Each person should grow trees for food and medicine. Trees are an economic driver for the country,” Mutie said.
By Ken Ndivo and Faith Mutinda
