Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Mr. Alex Lemarkoko graced the second graduation ceremony of the National Bee Keeping Institute, presided over by the Chief of Training at the State Department for Livestock Development, Ms. Rosemary Raluoch.
Congratulating the graduating class, which included two foresters from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), the CCF challenged them to apply their acquired skills in promoting sustainable livelihoods while contributing to forest conservation and ecosystem protection.
He highlighted the strong connection between apiculture and forestry, noting that healthy forest ecosystems provide essential forage for bees, while bees support pollination, biodiversity conservation and natural regeneration. He observed that beekeeping also offers communities forest-based economic opportunities through honey production, value addition and marketing of bee products, creating alternative livelihoods while strengthening incentives for forest protection.
The CCF encouraged young people to embrace practical skills training as a pathway to entrepreneurship, self-reliance and employment creation. He further called on Kenyans to intensify tree-growing efforts, emphasising the role of trees in climate change mitigation, water catchment protection and biodiversity conservation.
Situated within a forest environment, the National Bee Keeping Institute provides a practical setting for demonstrating the relationship between forest health and sustainable apiculture. The longstanding collaboration between KFS and the Institute underscores the importance of institutional partnerships in integrating forestry, biodiversity conservation and enterprise development.
The CCF was accompanied by Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests (DCCF), Natural Forests, Ms. Beatrice Mbula; Regional Forest Conservator (RFC), Nairobi, Ms. Joyce Nthuku; and other KFS officers.
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