Nyamira County is implementing adaptive mechanisms to mitigate effects of climate change in the area courtesy of the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme.
The Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources led by County Executive Committee Member (CECM) John Matiang’i has initiated programmes of construction of dams for water harvesting, desilting dams, protection of water springs and installation of solar powered pumps to supply residents with clean water for domestic use.
“The FLLoCA programme has enabled us to start drilling boreholes in various identified wards within Nyamira some of which include Nyansiongo, Mekenene, Magombo, Rigoma, amongst other, desilt the existing dams which were filled during the flooding seasons in the months of April and May, and protection of water springs where fetch for domestic use and animals for drinking,” Matiang’i confirmed.
He further said the county has also initiated urban greening with the FLLoCA programme where they plant trees in all urban and town centres within the county to increase tree cover, improve carbon sink and create a cool green ambience in Nyamira town centres.
“We are still sensitizing residents against planting eucalyptus trees which are detrimental to the environment, cause a lot of disputes amongst people due its effects on crops and endanger water catchment areas because they are heavy water consumers for their fast growth,” the CECM said.
Matiang’i pointed out that other types of trees apart from eucalyptus were equally economically viable because apart from timber, there were other trees like bamboo that are used to make several products and they have no waste at all.
He appreciated the Kenya Forestry Services (KFS) for their support of always providing tree seedlings and initiating various tree nurseries in schools and other public institutions to ensure that “we always have enough seedlings to plant and reclaim our environment which has speedily deteriorated mainly by human actions”.
Though Nyamira County has surpassed the 30 percent national tree cover target, majority of trees grown are eucalyptus, reason why the county government in partnership with other relevant stakeholders like the KFS are sensitizing residents, and starting up tree nurseries for the right kind of trees to ensure they are readily available to plant and nurture for a green environment and combat effects of global climate change.
By Deborah Bochere
