Kenyans can plant 7.5 billion trees in 7 years if they plant according to their ages

Machakos,

Friday, September 15, 2023

KNA by Anne Kangero

Kenya’s population is about 55 million with a mean age is 19.6 and if every Kenyan plants trees equivalent to their age on an annual basis and are supported by Corporates, then Kenyans will be able to plant 7.5 million trees in seven years.

This was said by the Founder of Green Africa Foundation Dr. Isaac Kalua who was speaking at Konza Technopolis in Machakos County during the annual plant your age day themed “My tree my age”.

Dr. Kalua whose Green Africa Foundation was collaborating with the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and Konza Technopolis said that Kenyans should take tree planting as an opportunity for livelihood, create money, rejuvenate their soils and an opportunity to deal with effects of climate change.

He urged Kenyans that in regards to the presidential directive to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, they should take it upon themselves and own the process and not depend on the government such as the Ministry of Environment or other ministries to plant for them since it’s beyond them.

The Green Africa Founder pointed out that the 15 billion trees is very achievable as long as Kenyans could relate tree growing to improvement of soil and food, creation of job opportunities and improved livelihood.

“It is beyond the Ministry of Environment to plant all the trees and so this year we are calling upon Corporates and individuals to take it up,” said Dr. Kalua.

Dr. Kalua added that they have launched an APP which would be reachable for every Kenyan, where they could monitor their trees through the www.plantyourage.africa so everyone could register their own tree and monitor it.

He said they have also launched an award called plant your age award, a global award which is about personal, corporate and international responsibility.

“The target of planting your age is 40 percent forest cover in the African continent by the year 2035 and therefore we have to take advantage and take personal responsibility,” added Dr. Kalua.

However Dr. Kalua decried that over 92 percent of the trees have been planted by Kenyans since independence but most of them have died.

He noted that it's important to know where trees are needed the most, what it takes to take care of a tree because tree growing starts from selection of the species depending on why one wants to plant a tree.

“One would want to plant a tree for medicinal purposes, source of livelihood, for fruit farming, firewood production and ornamental purposes so the where, why, when and how is what should be dealt with when one wants to plant trees,” said Dr. Kalua.

He added some of the trees that have been planted ended up dying because they dug small holes and did not take care where the rooting system would be and that’s why they are in Konza to demonstrate how it should be done so as to plant trees successfully.

He noted the ‘plant your age’ day event is also a reminder of environmental challenges that have been faced in the past, the upcoming El Nino rains and what people are doing to prepare for the same.

“With El Nino around the corner, how many people are informing their neighbours on preparation? How are the media informing the public on the best crops to be planted and what are the food storage opportunities?” questioned Dr. Kalua.

He pointed out that in lower Eastern, things would be different during El Nino because it is no longer the short period crops since there would be more water, so if one plants the short period crops, they may end up spoilt and there would be no harvest.

He urged Counties to focus on building and fixing the broken, impassable bridges before the coming rains and unblock the sewages and drainage systems and also create centers where food would be stored safely instead of depending on helicopters when it’s too late.

The Green Africa Foundation was founded in 2000 with a focus of implementing practical hands-on community driven projects aimed at greening the African continent.

Courtesy; KNA