Maragoli: The national government, in collaboration with other stakeholders, is determined to restore the Maragoli Hills Forest by undertaking reafforestation efforts. Speaking on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Natural Resources and Forestry, the Secretary of Administration Mark Elung’ata emphasized the government’s encouragement for locals to protect the forests.
According to Kenya News Agency, Elung’ata challenged the surrounding communities to work with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the National Environment Trust Fund (NETFUND) to create nature trails in the hilly forest. This initiative aims to attract tourists and generate revenue. The Western Regional Forest Conservator (RFC) Dennis Kerengo noted that NETFUND, in conjunction with the locals, has been planting seedlings, which consist of six species of fruit and indigenous trees, in an activity that concluded today.
Kerengo highlighted that despite Vihiga County’s leading position in forest cover in the region at 35 percent, the goal is to plant 2 million trees annually, reaching 14 million in seven years. This effort will contribute to the national target of 15 billion trees by 2032. The RFC urged the community to actively participate in the drive to rehabilitate the forest ecosystem to its former state.
Acting County Commissioner Florence Sitawa commended the community for collaborating with government officers to safeguard the forest. She assured that future forest conservation efforts will be synchronized with mobile public services, including national identity card applications and Social Health Authority (SHA) registration, among others.