Duale, Lusaka launch Sh620 million ecosystem restoration project

By Peter Ochieng

Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Aden Duale, alongside Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka have launched a Sh620 million Integrated Landscape Management project.

The project seeks to conserve and restore the Mt Elgon forest ecosystem. As such, CS Duale said the Kaberwa Tree Nursery in Kapsokwony will undergo a major expansion process from the current 1 acre to 2 acres.

“The 620 million project will see the Kaberua Tree Nursery increase its size from the current 1 acre to a substantial 2 acres, facilitating a more efficient and effective production process,” said the CS.

This strategic growth, he added, is part of a broader effort to restore and rehabilitate the degraded areas of the Mt. Elgon Forest, reinforcing the government’s commitment to the 15 billion national tree growing program. “The nursery is expected to grow its production capacity from an annual 500,000 seedlings to a remarkable 1 million seedlings.”

"Mt. Elgon is not just a landscape; it is a vital water tower, a biodiversity hotspot, and an essential resource for our communities and nation," added the CS.

The project is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in partnership with the Kaberua Community Forest Association (CFA).

Duale maintained that the expansion will stimulate local economies by creating new employment opportunities in tree nursery operations, conservation activities, and related sectors.

He announced a complete ban on all forms of cultivation in natural forests, in a bid to promote conservation.

"Anyone, including government officials, found engaging in activities that harm this ecosystem, be it through collusion, encroachment, or illegal cultivation, will face severe consequences, including dismissal.”

“Our forests are not mere resources to exploit; they are the foundation of our national wellbeing and future. It is imperative that we all take responsibility and work together to protect them," the CS reiterated.

Governor Lusaka on his part said he believes the money allocated for the project will transform livelihoods in the area.

"Let this money transform the livelihoods of our people."