An environmentalist based in Nakuru City, Ruth Chepngetich, on Thursday, warned residents living in an environment without trees, would have several significant negative effects on people’s health due to the current climate change, reduced air quality, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, reduced water supply, and reduced recreational opportunities, especially for children.
The environmental expert said trees play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, and without trees, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would dramatically increase. Hence, having a negative health effect on the surrounding homesteads.
In an interview with KNA, she said trees release oxygen into the atmosphere through photosynthesis and absorb pollutants, helping to improve air quality; without trees, air pollution would increase.
She urged wananchi to embrace the government’s directive to plant trees as often as possible and to desist from cutting trees without a compelling need.
Chepng’etich said tree roots help to hold the soil in place, preventing soil erosion. In case of heavy floods, such houses or homesteads, which are surrounded by trees, are more likely to remain standing.
Additionally, she said trees provide habitats for a wide range of plants and animals. Without trees, many species would lose their homes and sources of food, leading to a decline in biodiversity, and for every plant that goes extinct, humanity loses a number of years from their lives on earth.
Chepng’etich observed that trees help regulate the water cycle by absorbing water from the ground and releasing it into the atmosphere through transpiration. Thus, without trees, there would be less water available for drinking, agriculture, and other uses. Adding that, a homestead surrounded by trees could easily dig a well using jembes since the water table is a few meters below.
She noted that trees provide beautiful scenery and recreational opportunities, such as tree climbing for children, camping, and birdwatching. Without trees, these opportunities are lost.
The environmentalist disclosed that living without trees and especially in crumbed houses, like the ones in informal settlements, has been proven to cause respiratory diseases, and worse still, increase mental health issues.
She gave an example of Kabarak University, which has various trees species and a calming environment but is surrounded with bare farms because the Rongai Sub-county where it is situated is a semi-arid area.
By Veronica Bosibori
