Kwale County has initiated a week-long environmental campaign aimed at promoting tree planting and environmental conservation. The campaign, which started on October 5, brings together government agencies, private sector organizations, and community groups. The activities are part of preparations for the National Environment Day celebrations on October 10. The campaign's launch at Uwanja wa Manispaa ya Kwale marks the beginning of a series of environmental activities across the county.
The campaign involves various activities, including town clean-ups, tree planting in schools, agroforestry, land restoration, and rehabilitation of degraded areas. Kwale County Commissioner, Henry Rotich, urged residents to take advantage of the ongoing short rains to plant trees. He emphasized the importance of tree planting in enhancing environmental conservation and mitigating the effects of climate change, especially with weather forecasts indicating above-normal rainfall due to the El Nino weather phenomenon.
County Forest Conservator Sailas Tsuma outlined the schedule of activities, which include tree planting in schools, agroforestry, and rehabilitation of degraded areas. On Tuesday, tree planting will take place in schools, with the Kenya Forest Service providing seedlings to participating learning institutions. The following day will focus on agroforestry, particularly the planting of fruit trees, while another day will be dedicated to rehabilitating areas degraded by mining activities.
The campaign has garnered support from various stakeholders, including the Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection (MWARP) and Plan International. MWARP representative James Chapa emphasized the importance of environmental conservation in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. He urged residents to take care of seedlings after planting and to participate in tree planting initiatives, including mangrove restoration.
Plan International representative Kingstone Njeru noted that the campaign has adopted a whole-of-government, multi-agency, and society approach, with participation from government departments, private organizations, students, and community groups. He emphasized that environmental conservation is a shared responsibility, including for children, and urged everyone to participate in tree planting and clean-up activities.
The week-long activities will culminate in the national Environment Day celebrations on October 10, with large-scale tree planting at different sites, including Tsunza, Majoreni, and Vanga. A total of 100,000 trees will be planted at Tsunza, 50,000 trees at Majoreni, and another 50,000 trees at Vanga. Stakeholders are calling on residents across Kwale to make environmental conservation a continuous community responsibility.
Various organizations and individuals have pledged their support for the campaign, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in achieving the national target of increasing Kenya's forest cover. The campaign's success will depend on the active participation of residents, government agencies, and private sector organizations in promoting environmental conservation and sustainability.
Key points
- The campaign aims to plant 200,000 trees across the county.
- The activities are part of preparations for the National Environment Day celebrations on October 10.
- The campaign has adopted a whole-of-government, multi-agency, and society approach to promote environmental conservation.
