The World Environment Day is a global event and is celebrated each year. It is a day that stimulates awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and public action. Every 5th June, 2010 is a day used by the United Nations Environment Programme to create worldwide awareness. World Environment Day is hosted every year by a different city with a different theme and is commemorated with an international exposition in the week of 5th June. Under the theme,"Many species, One planet, One future" this year's event was celebrated the incredible diversity life on earth as part of 2010 International year of Biodiversity.

In Garissa, the provincial headquarter for North Eastern Province did not miss a chance to celebrate in the worldwide event. It was marked at Hyuga Girls Primary School. The event begun with a colourful beats by the Garissa Teachers Training College band that took along the streets of Garissa Town leading the procession to the venue led by Kenya Forest Service Forester Mr. Mosses with his motor cycle while on a reflector jacket and at low speed. On the distinguished guests for the department were: Assistant Commandant Kenya Forest Service Retired Lt. Colonel Patrick Obore, Chairman Forest Conservancy Committee dr. Ahmed,Zonal Manager for Garissa District Mr. Noor Maalim, Forester Mosses, Rangers corporal Dekow and Senior Constable Daud. The KFS input in provision of tree seedlings and the technicality during the tree planting process made the event successful. The fully dressed rangers on jungle uniform shared their prolonged experiences when it came to the planting session. With over 200 seedlings donated to National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), KFS managed to achieve its mandate as part of the Vision 2030 to increase trees and forest cover.

In the speaker's wing were Mr. Noor. Noor recognized the presence of the Assistant Commandant Rtd. Lt.col. Obore. He also said that since the establishment of KFS, the Service is converting most of its staffs to uniformed services with the Head of Conservancy and other Zonal Managers having undergone their Paramilitary basic training at Kenya Forest College in Londiani. Mr. Noor mentioned that Tree planting activities in Garissa Town by the KFS for the past three years has increased trees cover especially in institutions and many schools have a lot of trees planted in them. Among these, 34 schools both primary and secondary, a minimum of 200 trees are planted in each school. He said that they had launched a tree planting ceremony on 22nd April, 2010. In the past 1 year, 8000 trees were planted and the target in the KKV programme is to plant 12,000 trees. Kazi Kwa Vijana has helped the youths and has planted trees in institutions and everywhere. In this project, job has been created for 137 youths who are casually employed. The biggest achievement they had was Tetu primary and secondary school. KFS is engaging with the youths and the communities and headed by them. He welcomed Dr. Ahmed who is the Chairman for Forest Conservation Committee (FCC) for North Eastern Province(NEP).

DR. Ahmed Chairman- FCC said that by the end of all celebrations, the outcome is "Mazingira safi"meaning a clean environment. He quoted a verse from the holy Quran "If you do not clean your environment, you will not enter paradise". He brought out a new board of committee called FCC where each district has a representative. He mentioned the importance of NEMA and Garissa Municipal council coming together and ensures that each shop has a dustbin.

Environmental messages were spoken with the same messages taken home. Award certificates were given to the best environmental practices and participations.KFS got awarded for having being involved in the preparations and commemoration of the World Environment Day.

The celebrations were ended by lunching at the Garissa Government Guest House.

More than 300 youth have recently planted 35,000 seedlings in Mau's Kiptunga forest. The youth coming from various learning institutions including Daystar University, St. Pauls University, East Africa School of Aviation, Kisii College and Sun Shine High school were led by the current Miss Kenya Fiona Konchella in an effort to save the Mau forest.

Fiona Konchellah, the reigning Miss Kenya addresses the gathering

In his remarks, the chief guest KFS Board Chairman Prof. Richard Musangi encouraged the youth to take part in environmental conservation for the benefit of both current and future generations. He said forest destruction drivers included greed by individuals and was steered by demand for forest products. In the event, Prof. Musangi was accompanied by KFS Board Member Mr. Joseph Murei Mang'ira.

The KFS Chairman, Prof. Richard Musangi addresses the participating youth before the tree planting

Deputy Director Forest Conservation and Management Mr. Essau Omollo said the Service is now partnering with individuals and groups interested in supporting in forest rehabilitation initiatives countrywide. He congratulated Ms Fiona for her initiative and insight towards a better future for humanity and said the Service will continue to provide guidance and planting space for future forestry based initiatives. Mr. Omollo was accompanied by Ag. Corporation Secretary Mr. Sam Owino.

Miss Kenya expressed concerns at the rate of environmental degradation globally noting that the youth stood to lose the most should the current situation continue unabated. She promised to mobilize more youth for planting in other forests in Kenya indicating her next stop is going to be the Ngong hills forest in Nairobi conservancy.

Clean water runneth from our forests

The 35,000 indigenous seedlings planted were provided by Eastern Produce a tea processing company based in Nandi Hills.

It was a moment of relief and excitement for Western Conservancy staff when they received results that the KFS stand scooped position three in the "Best Medium Trade Stand". The stand highlighted by a model of the Kakamega tropical forest, campsite models, PELIS model and forest plantations was frequently visited by farmers and students interested in forestry practices both for conservation and commercial enterprise. The Service was sharing the stand with other institutions in the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife

During a visit to the show grounds, members of the Western Forest Conservation Committee expressed disappointed at the space utilization by the ASK. The ASK show grounds are hoisted on forest land which measures 100 acres and is grossly underutilized with only 35 exhibitors occupying slightly more than 50%. The members also noted that most of the land is currently leased to private individuals for farming of maize and bananas. The members have now recommended that the Service recovers 40 acres which should immediately be put under forestry activities.

President Kibaki was speaking on Friday 9th July 2010 at the Nakuru Showground where he officially opened ASK Central Rift National Show (Nakuru) .

The President said the Government will this financial year plant one billion trees in its effort to restore the country's forest cover.

Emphasizing the Government's commitment to the restoration of the country's dwindling forest cover and protection of water towers, President Kibaki said his Government, through the Kenya Forest Service, has targeted to conserve a total of 100,000 hectares.

"This Province carries three of our major water towers which include the Mau Complex, Cherangani hills and part of Mt. Elgon Forest that we must jealously protect from any further encroachment," the President said.

The President said the Government will also spend a total of Kshs 28 million to pay youth engaged in tree planting, saying this will be bring an additional 930 hectares under forest cover through the Kazi Kwa Vijana programme.

In this regard, the Head of State urged all Kenyans to plant as many trees as they can in order to conserve the environment.

Said the President  "I also encourage farmers to protect the environment and particularly the forests so that agriculture can be a sustainable venture."

Saying the theme of this year's Nakuru National show "Driving Agribusiness in Attaining Food Sufficiency and VISION TWENTY THIRTY" underscores the importance of agriculture as the main driver of the economy, the President called on farmers from the Rift Valley Province to take advantage of the prevailing favourable production conditions to diversify into value addition.

President Kibaki observed that the province is not only the country's bread basket but also produces a large variety of cash crops, saying last year the province produced 14.2 million bags of maize valued at Kshs 28.5 billion.

He said with the good rains experienced this year, production is expected to double to approximately 29 million bags which accounts for 63 per cent of total national production.

"This tremendous increase in the production of maize, wheat and other food crops is a result of the Government's efforts to support farmers in mechanization as well as provision of farm inputs," the President said.

To ease the cost of farm operations and open new areas for cultivation, President Kibaki said the Government allocated 120 tractors over the last one year to boost farm operations in Rift Valley Province.

With regard to farm inputs, the President said the province received a total of 619 metric tons of assorted seeds valued at Kshs 71.7 million and 45,700 metric tons of subsidized fertilizer valued at Kshs 916 million.

He assured farmers that his Government will continue with programmes geared towards ensuring that the country produces enough food not only for local requirements but also for export.

Regarding cash crops, President Kibaki noted that the Rift Valley Province produced 176 million kilograms of tea valued at Kshs 18 billion last year.

On horticulture, the President said the Government will continue to promote horticultural farming in the country, noting that the sub-sector earned the country Kshs 49.4 billion in foreign exchange despite the challenges of drought and the global financial crisis.