Residents in Meru county have been urged to come out in large numbers and participate in the national tree planting exercise tomorrow as Eastern region target to plant 11 million trees .
Speaking to the media Meru county forest conservator Williston Ndaka accompanied by community forest association (CFA) officials today said the exercise is aimed at increasing the forest cover especially in lower Imenti forest among other parts of the region.
Dorothy Naitore CFA secretary at the same time lauded president William Ruto for the initiative that she said will help reduce the effect of climate change in our country .
“ The initiative to plant 15 billion trees by 2023 is a great move it will help us to restore our forests now that we are facing acute climate change in Africa ,” said Naitore
Ndaka,while welcoming locals at Kithoka Primary school where the launch will be done ,said so far they have planted a total of 760,000 trees and targeting to plant more than 1 million trees on Monday 13th .
“We are majoring on planting indigenous tree which can easily survive during harsh climatic conditions and also are good in conserving soil ,” said Ndaka.
Dorothy further added they have more than 940,000 seedlings for the launch calling on government to empower the community and carry out sensitization programme to educate them on how to take care of the trees.
“ Yes we are going to plant very many trees but then let the government not forget that these young trees need care to mature well and if no care is taken for them then many may again dry or die prematurely ,” added Dorothy .
Recently the president launched a national wide Jaza Miti ‘initiative in collaboration with Safaricom through the ministry of Environment forest and climate change nationwide drive to plant 15billion trees.
The forestay Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho also announced the project, which began in 2019, is supported by several partners. These include the African Development Bank, United Kingdom Fund, Global Environment Fund and the local private sector.
