African countries have been challenged to lobby for carbon credit programmes in a bid to encourage tree growing in large numbers.
Speaking during a tree-planting exercise at Marania Forest in Meru County, Principal Secretary for East African Affairs Dr. Calorine Karugu emphasized the need for African governments to lobby for carbon credit opportunities that would incentivize communities to grow more trees.
“African countries suffer the most from the effects of climate change due to excessive carbon emissions in the atmosphere, yet they produce very low emissions. That is why governments must lobby for carbon credit programmes to encourage tree growing,” she said.
She noted that Meru remains a critical water catchment area that supports both water supply and hydro-electric power generation, making conservation efforts in the region vital.
Karugu revealed that the State Department had been tasked with leading an accelerated tree-planting campaign, with over 3.5 million trees already planted and a target of five million trees set before the end of the current financial year.
“Our State Department has been directed to lead an accelerated tree-planting programme. So far, we have planted more than 3.5 million trees and we have a target of five million trees before the end of this financial year,” she stated.
She added that the government under William Ruto is committed to environmental sustainability through an ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.
“The trees we plant today may not benefit us directly, but they will benefit future generations, protect water catchment areas and help us build sustainable cities downstream,” she said.
The initiative, implemented in collaboration with the Kenya Forest Service and local communities, is part of a broader national reforestation programme aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems.
Meru County Commissioner Jacob Ouma lauded residents for their active participation, noting significant progress toward the county’s annual targets.
“The national government administration is at the centre of the campaign to ensure the 15 billion trees target is achieved. Meru County has been directed to plant 37 million trees annually, and so far we have grown 61 million trees,” said Ouma.
However, he acknowledged a shortfall of about 40 million trees, which authorities plan to address within the implementation period.
County Forest Conservator Wellington Ndaka said the programme has adopted a “whole community, whole government approach” to increase forest and tree cover.
According to Ndaka, Meru currently has 12.8 percent forest cover and 29 percent tree cover, placing it among the leading counties in tree-growing efforts.
“We are not only growing trees in gazetted forests, which are limited in size, but also in public institutions including schools. We are encouraging residents to plant trees on their farms,” he said.
He also urged residents to plant fruit trees for both nutritional and economic benefits.
“So far, Kenya Forest Service has planted more than 500,000 fruit trees and the exercise is ongoing. About 90 percent of our forests are covered by indigenous trees while 10 percent are commercial trees,” Ndaka added.
