The Kenya Forest Service intends to plant a total of 10.6 million trees under the Jaza Miti Initiative, launched by President Dr. William Ruto in November last year.
The Nyeri County Ecosystem Conservator Moses Wahome has told KNA they are currently targeting farmers and public institutions to attain the target while taking advantage of the ongoing rainy season.
So far KFS has managed to distribute at least 5.5 million tree seedlings to farmers, schools, churches, and local community-based groups for planting since November last year, following the president’s drive for the country to plant 15 billion tree seedlings within a decade.
“Our target for Nyeri is 10.6 million trees for the next five years and that is the number of seedlings we intend to raise, Right now, we have planted 5.5 million trees since the start of the Jaza Miti program around November,” says Wahome.
The Jaza Miti initiative is a presidential directive in which Safaricom in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change alongside other State ministries came up with an ambitious nationwide drive to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.
The proponents have also come up with an App dubbed ‘JazaMiti’ available on Google Play Store and iPhone Operating System (IOS).
The App facilitates and enhances tree planting programs by allowing users select suitable tree species for planting based on their location, and document tree growth over time in a bid to aid the fight against Climate Change.
Wahome also confirmed they will be conducting a tree planting exercise at the Gathioro Forest Station in Kieni on Monday after the Government declared the day a public holiday in recognition of the country’s mitigation bid in addressing the effects of Climate change.
While declaring the holiday, Interior and National Administration CS Prof. Kindiki Kithure said the exercise will be part of Kenya’s Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Programme in line with the Presidential directive of planting 15 billion trees.
“On Monday there will be a tree launch of tree planting headed by the President. Our tree planting exercise will take place at Gathioro Forest station. We are also availing seedlings to farmers through woodlot establishments and agroforestry and so we are planting everywhere and not necessarily in the gazetted forests,” he added.
Last week, Wahome announced that a delay in the onset of the October-November-December short rains was affecting afforestation plans in the County.
He said initial plans to conduct an aggressive tree planting campaign across the county had therefore been put on hold due to a poor moisture buildup.
The official said they had to suspend any tree planting campaign until the county records substantial amounts of rain.
Nyeri recorded its first downpour for the start of the short rainy season on October 18.
“The rains have failed. We were just awaiting moisture to build up but lack of rain has hindered any further progress. Our projection is to plant trees everywhere and especially on farmlands in areas of Kieni which is an Arid and Semi-Arid Land. But right now, we have to wait for the rains,” he told the press.
He further stated that KFS was targeting to replenish tree coverage in both gazetted forest reserves, public institutions and private farmlands in a massive project involving various stakeholders including churches, institutions of learning, and members of the public and National Government Administration Officers (NGAO).
“We are planting everything that is in the nurseries. Let us not discuss targets but talk about planting when the rains come. We are a bit frustrated right now. We could be busy in the field. We are only praying for rain since it will also affect food security in the country,” he added.
Nyeri County is targeting to increase its forest cover from the current 40.89 percent to 43 percent by the year 2027.
During celebrations to mark this year’s International Day of Forests held at Kabaru Forest on March 21, Water Irrigation, Environment and Climate Change CEC, Fredrick Kinyua disclosed that his department was keen on supporting the government attain its target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
Kinyua similarly noted that with the increased forest cover, the county would be best placed to combat the erratic weather patterns being experienced in the country due to climate change.
“We cannot talk about tackling food security, water shortage or climate change without talking about protecting our forests. The solution to the problems we are currently facing can be resolved by taking care of our forests and planting more trees,” said the officer during the event.
“We are still implementing the 10 million trees challenge with the help of our schools which will help Kenya Forest Service and Community Forest Associations propagate seedlings. To ensure that we do not just plant trees, we are encouraging the learners in those schools to adopt a tree so that they can care for the trees until they reach maturity. Our goal is to hit the 45 percent mark in the next five years,” added Kinyua.
Kenya’s ambitious greening program caught the attention of King Charles III during his four-day official State visit to the country last week when he declared that he admired Ruto for his efforts to ensure Kenya plants 15 billion trees to combat climate.
“Having been planting trees for most of my life, I thought I was doing rather well, but your ambition for planting 15 billion trees makes me admire your efforts,” he said.
Kenya’s ambitious greening program caught the attention of King Charles III during his four-day official State visit to the country last week when he declared his admiration to Ruto’s his efforts in ensuring Kenya plants 15 billion trees to combat climate change.
“Having been planting trees for most of my life, I thought I was doing rather well, but your ambition for planting 15 billion trees makes me admire your efforts,” he said.
The monarch was speaking at State House, Nairobi during the recent Banquet prepared by his host.
According to the National Forest Resources Assessment Report the country’s forest cover stands at 8.83 percent.
Nyeri County has three times the nationally recommended 10 percent forest cover and a tree cover of 45.17 percent.
Forest plantations currently cover at least 335,000 acres in all gazetted reserves of Kenya, including Mount Kenya, Aberdare, Mau Forest Complex, Cherangani Hills and Mt Elgon.
By Samuel Maina
