KFS to continue nurturing tree seedlings to plant over 300m trees

Kiambu,

Monday, January 15, 2024

KNA Wangari Ndirangu

The Kenya Forest Services (KFS) will this year embark on increasing tree cover through raising seedlings and growing trees. 

Led by the Chief Conservator of Forests Mr. Alex Lemarkoko, the organization has embarked by planting over 5000 trees of Blue-gum species at Upland Forest Escarpment Block.

“We have decided to come out of the Offices as Staff and the Star the Year in tree planting exercise and work with other stakeholders particularly Community Forest Association (CFA) who are their critical Shareholders in KFS”, he said during the exercise. 

Lemarkoko thanked the government for the 321 personnel that the government employed saying they will be a big boost in the utilization of raising seedlings, protecting the forest and also ensuring efficient management of the plantations.

“The most critical challenge that KFS has had in the last three (3) decades was lack of personnel and support in terms of finances and also the issue of training and competency of development but since last year the government has given us personnel, resources and also training”, he said. 

He noted that in the short period, KFS has managed to reduce deforestation in most of their forest and this is because of the efforts of high-level discipline towards their Forest Ranger in curbing theft.

The CCF noted that technology is key in the monitoring of activities and also in the surveillance of forest areas against threats such as fires and that KFS is currently being supported through a project by the French government in building capacity of the personnel of monitoring, response, and mitigation of fires to ensure the forests are healthy and free of common thefts.

“We are bringing in matters of technology to enhance production in terms of efficiency and cutting costs on production. We cannot also achieve much without engaging the community Forests services and also the KFS component in our strategy of 30 percent recovery which requires us to plant 300 million seedlings which need planning, labor, and production materials “, Lemarkoko said. 

He explained that they are currently enhancing the skills and competence of officers through training that is ongoing among the personnel from rangers to inspectors but notably also training of forest officers in the KFS Londiani College to ensure there is an adequate number of personnel to address governments agenda of planting the 15 billion trees.

Dr, Solomon Kipkoech of EarthLungs Reforestation Foundation said they have been working with KFS and also communities in protecting the degradation of forests in the country.

“We have adopted a forest where we work together with communities surrounding the forest and in turn we support these families in raising seedlings and in turn benefit with their Health Covers and supporting school-going children,” he said.

Kipkoech added that as an organization they have a slogan; plant and grow a tree for 5 years for Sh.50 “Kafinje tu” to support the government's tree planting initiative and called upon Kenyans to support the noble cause.

“Earth Lungs is asking Kenyans to join us in planting trees. we will plant 10 percent of the 15 billion target and that is 1.5 million trees by 2032 through the collaboration, we are getting from KFS and communities we are determined we will make it’, he noted.

Frasia Wanjiku Mbugua treasurer with Uplands Forest CFA said they voluntarily support KFS in tree planting at the exercise but they also benefit by utilizing the land through livelihood support programs where they grow food.

“We support the exercises and as CFA we assist in the restoration of forests. we have a target to plant over 300,000 trees seedlings at our 3 blocks at the Uplands Forest supported by many partners”, she said . 

Two Months ago, statistics showed that Kiambu County had managed to plant at least seven million trees since President William Ruto in 2022 December commissioned the Programme dubbed “jaza miti,” to increase the country's forest cover by 15 billion trees by 2032.

Courtesy; KNA