Students of Budokomi Secondary School through the support of the Kenya Forest Services (KFS) and the Linda Mazingira Environmental Organization, have planted 800 seedlings in line with the Presidential Directive of achieving 15 billion tree seedlings by 2032.
Speaking during the tree planting exercise at the School Friday, Busia County Forest Conservator Vitalis Osodo, said that his team will visit other schools and government institutions across the County to plant more trees.
“We have received 300 tree seedlings from Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and 500 others from Linda Mazingira, totaling to 800 that we are planting today,’ he said, adding that KFS will not stop at that with a view to increase the County’s Forest cover.
Osodo said KFS is working closely with other stakeholders to mitigate the negative effects of Climate Change.
He pointed out that the County has a very low forest cover standing at 0.5 percent currently.
“When it comes to tree cover, we are at 8.5 percent,’ he said, adding that the County has not attained the required 10 percent cover due to failure of a number of local residents to embrace tree planting
The Official pointed out that there are bare hills in Samia and Teso North Sub-counties due to deforestation.
Osodo urged the local residents to put more effort into tree planting so that they can reach the National level which currently stands at 12 percent.
“We want to advise students to embrace tree planting so that they can know its importance and the need to plant more while at home,” he said.
Busia Acting County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto, urged the local residents and the students, to inculcate the culture.
Ruto thanked KFS for supporting the tree planting exercise and urged them to produce more seedlings to be planted across the County.
“We will move from School to School and identify any open space so that we can plant trees,” he said, adding that Busia is at the lowest level on matters of forest and tree cover.
He said that Busia is ranked last out of the four Western Region Counties of Kakamega, Vihiga and Bungoma.
“We need to plant more trees within our homesteads, farms in order to improve the tree cover,’ he said.
The Administrator urged students to work hard in their education so as to realize their life aspirations and a bright future.
We must thank the leadership of this School for managing this high population,’ he said, adding that the school will be considered for more CBC classes.
Ruto urged students to refrain from early marriages that can interfere with their education.
The Administrator further cautioned the students against engaging in LGBTQ, adding that it was not only against African culture but also not biblical.
The tree planting exercise was organized by the school administration and the Board of Management.
By Salome Alwanda
