The Principal Secretary State Department of Forests Mr. Gitonga Mugambi has led planting of 10,000 seedlings in Kibiri Forest, Vihiga County in honour of victims of the recent floods that are attributed to effects of climate change.
Mr. Mugambi encouraged the community, who constituted a mammoth crowd, to invest in tree growing for enterprise, and as an intervention for climate change. He said the event was a response to the President’s directive towards 15 billion trees by 2032.
Vihiga County targets to plant 23 million trees by 2032, towards this end, the PS noted that only 860,000 seedlings have been achieved.
During the event, the Chief Conservator of Forests Mr. Alex Lemarkoko was represented by Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests Dr. Clement Ngoriareng.
Dr. Ngoriareng said Vihiga County ranks third nationwide in tree cover, adding that the forests are a critical catchment area for the Yala river.
Ngoriareng said the Service is at the forefront in supporting the government’s effort towards achievement of 30% tree cover by the year 2032. He thanked the community for active participation in conserving the forests.
The Service has in place strategies that are implemented through various programs and partnerships to accelerate success in forest conservation.
Dr. Ngoriareng noted the Service is ready and available to provide technical support while working hand-in-hand with county governments to enhance onfarm tree growing to reduce pressure on gazetted forests such as Kibori Forest.
