County initiates tree adoption in institutions to curb effects of climate change

Nyamira

Thursday, July 27, 2023

KNA by Deborah Bochere

Nyamira County Government has initiated a tree adoption program in all learning institutions to curb the effects of climate change which is threatening people’s lives and their livelihoods.

The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Environment, Mining, Natural Resources and Climate Change John Matiang’i told the press that that in a bid to increase tree cover in the county, the county government has initiated a program of planting trees in all learning institutions in the county to be nurtured by learners till they become stable to grow naturally by themselves.

“Eucalyptus tree plantations along riparian areas in Gusii region have totally depleted marshy swamps, turned some rivers seasonal and dried up freshwater springs which have endangered the lives of aquatic animals forcing them to survive under tough unfavorable conditions and worse made some extinct,” the CECM said.

“These trees have sapped huge volumes of water from fresh springs at the highlands of Kiabonyoru in Nyamira, the main source to River Gucha which joins River Migori to pour its waters into Lake Victoria,” Matiang’i said.

He pointed out that it is against these detrimental phenomena which have compelled the county government to initiate the project of planting environment-friendly trees which, apart from contributing to the increase in the tree cover percentage in the county, they will assist in reclaiming the depleted water sources and conserve them in order to regain the initial green, cool ambiance we enjoyed in the past.

“The effects of climate change in our county are majorly caused by human action, and we must reform and take action to replenish and safeguard our own environment if at all we are to curb these multifaceted effects which are fast becoming a real disaster,” the environment CECM stated.

“Apart from the planting of eucalyptus trees along riparian areas, brick making, leaving ballast stone excavation quarries open, wanton tree felling without replacement, using the traditional land tilling methodologies which accelerate soil erosion and mineral depletion are some of the human activities by people of Nyamira which have threatened our environment and have brought about climate change effects,” Matiang’i listed.

The officer said he wants the young generation in learning institutions to embrace environment conservation and be included in the fight against the effects of climate change which are real and likely to worsen by day if not mitigated early.

“We are collaborating with the County Forest Department which will issue the tree seedlings for free to all learning institutions and mandate the school administration to encourage each learner to adopt a tree by planting it, nurture it by weeding and watering during the dry spell until it stable to grow independently to reclaim our green land glory,” said the CECM.

“We are optimistic that by bringing the young generation to be part of the climate action team, Nyamira County will succeed in its efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change which has become a global threat,” Matiang’i said.

Courtesy ; K. N. A