Embu: Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Embu station has led other stakeholders including the local community of Mbuvori Location in Embu North Sub-county in planting 17,500 indigenous tree seedlings in Irangi Forest. The exercise was part of the forestation tree planting programme for the short rains season, aimed at enabling the county reach its target of planting 1.4 million tree seedlings this year according to County Commissioner Jack Obuo.
According to Kenya News Agency, the county is inching closer to one million trees, and there is optimism that by the end of the short rains around January, the target will be achieved. Speaking after the exercise aimed at restoring acres of the degraded forest, the county commissioner highlighted the importance of planting trees to conserve the environment.
County Conservator Miriam Kamau encouraged locals to embrace tree planting initiatives as a means to mitigate climate change as well as avert drought. She emphasized that there are enough tree seedlings in their nurseri
es and urged locals to utilize the short rains to plant trees on their farms to boost the country’s tree cover. “We appeal to our people to take advantage of the rains to plant trees and also ensure they nurture them to maturity,” she said.
County Water CEC Florence Musyoka called on the community living around the forest to conserve it, highlighting its significance as a major catchment area for rivers such as Thambana, which is the main source of water in the county for agriculture and domestic use. She mentioned that the County Government has a target of planting 500,000 trees this year and assured that the plan was on course.
Lastly, Governor Cecily Mbarire distributed 16,000 pixie orange seedlings to farmers in Mbeere South Sub-county, which will not only assist in increasing tree cover but also serve as a source of income for the locals.
