Kisii Residents Contribute To Ruto's 15 Billion Trees Campaign

Kisii County residents have been urged to invest in planting trees to realize sustainable development and fight climate change, in line with President William Ruto's plan of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.

According to its department of forestry, the forest cover in the county is approximated at 228.4 hectares.

Speaking at the Nyaura location on Tuesday, January 10, Kisii Central Deputy County Commissioner Wilberforce Kilonzo said that planting trees is not only beneficial to the environment but also improves people’s physical and mental health.

Kisii Central Deputy County Commissioner Wilberforce planting a tree at Nyaura location in Kisii County on January 10, 2023. /VIRALTEAKE.ELIZABETH ANGIRA

He added that the government is committed to planting trees to help in reducing air pollution, improve the urban environment and reduce the devastating impacts of climate change such as droughts and flooding. According to him, tree planting plays an important role in addressing the impacts of climate change, and mitigating the effects of climate change besides reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“Trees are vital to our existence because they provide us with oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and by doing so they act as the game changer in reversing global warming,” said Kilonzo.

During the event, more than 1,000 trees were planted at the dispensary and primary school to conserve the environment and increase climate resilience.

“The trees which were planted were 500 indigenous, 300 exotic and 200 fruits,” he said, adding that the world is getting more and more urbanized and that demand for housing is putting pressure on green spaces thus leading to the replacement of the spaces with ‘concrete surfaces and jungles’.

The county boss urged area residents to adopt the tree planting initiative not only in institutions such as learning institutions, offices and hospitals but also in their homesteads.

“We need to replenish the ecosystem through the planting of more trees because Gusii has lost a lot of tree species due to deforestation,” he said.

He encouraged the residents of the county to participate in the ambitious plan of planting 15 billion trees as part of the national government’s climate change mitigation agenda. President Ruto's government urged Kenyans to plant trees against deforestation and curb the effects of climate change on the environment.

Kilonzo advised young people, individuals and organizations throughout the country to cultivate the habit of planting more trees, especially in degraded areas to protect the environment. He urged area residents to plant more trees during the upcoming rainy season in order to meet the required forest cover.

Kisii County Forest Conservator Wellington Ndaka said that they are encouraging people to do agroforestry where they intercrop friendly trees with crops.

Ndaka cited that owing to massive afforestation, the county has gazetted five national forests with 67 acres, that is Nyangweta forest, Insaria, Ndonyo,  Basi Masige, Itumbe and Ngeri, whereas Kisii county government forest has Nyanturago forest, Kemboye and Emburogo.

The conservator added many of the indigenous trees have been depleted, saying there need to replenish the forest cover as well as for residents to change their attitude towards tree planting.

“Many of the people look at the issue of tree planting as a government concern, and yet it’s a concern of all us to protect the environment for posterity,” he said and called on the residents to increase tree cover in their farms, he said.

Forest cover in Kisii County. /VICTOR MATARA