CS urges residents to ensure trees reach maturity

Nyandarua,

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

KNA by Antony Mwangi

Nyandarua residents have been challenged to ensure that at least 80 percent of the trees they plant reach maturity.

Speaking during a tree planting exercise in Geta forest in Nyandarua County, Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning Prof. Njuguna Ndung'u said that planting trees was great but the greatest challenge lies in ensuring the trees mature.

CS Ndung'u noted the activity is not a one-day event but a process, and affirmed the trees will be nurtured to maturity.

“We have started a journey of ensuring our trees mature. I’ll be visiting this area to ensure I check up on the progress. I have adopted this county in matters of trees and forests. In December last year, Governor Badilisha and I led residents in planting 5,600 trees at Kiambogo, Geta Ward and I have been briefed by the Chief Forest Conservator John Njoroge that 80 percent of the trees are doing well,” said Ndung’u. 

Over 12,000 trees were planted in a section of the forest under restoration where Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha urged residents to take ownership of environmental conservation because it directly affects our livelihoods.

“Let us adopt tree growing both as an environmental undertaking and a commercial enterprise; tree growing pays and we must now see it as an investment.

“This exercise is part of the President’s commitment to growing about 15 billion trees in the country in ten years. Environmental conservation will also assist in our reclamation interventions for the lake Olbolossat and our diminishing rivers and water sources which are major drivers of drought and water scarcity in our region,” said Bailisha.

Present were Senator John Methu, MPs Wanjiku Muhia, Faith Gitau, County Commissioner Mohammed Barre, and a host of other National government and County government officers.

Courtesy; KNA