MOMBASA – In a significant move toward environmental conservation, the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), in collaboration with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), has initiated a mangrove planting project at Tudor Creek to commemorate its 50th anniversary.

According to Kenya News Agency, the event saw the participation of over 60 individuals, including personnel from KPC, KFS, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), and Community Forest Associations (CFAs), who planted more than 61,500 mangrove propagules on a 50-hectare tract of degraded land in Tudor Creek. This initiative is part of a broader commitment by KPC to promote tree planting across Kenya for the next decade, contributing to the national objective of achieving 30 percent tree cover by the year 2032.

Last week, the collaborative effort led to the planting of 61,500 trees in Tudor Creek with the support of five CFAs that supplied both the seedlings and labor. Over the past three years, KPC’s partnership in tree-growing activities has resulted in the cultivation of half a million trees. In an effort to foster sustainable community development, KPC has also contributed 30 bee hives to local residents.

The conservation of mangrove forests is crucial, as these ecosystems serve as vital breeding grounds for various marine species, thereby enhancing fish populations in adjacent ocean waters.

Furthermore, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki has announced that Monday, November 13, 2023, will be observed as National Tree Growing Day, encouraging citizens across Kenya to partake in nationwide tree-planting endeavors. This initiative is a component of Kenya’s Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Programme, which aims to plant fifteen billion trees, as highlighted in the gazette notice released by the Cabinet Secretary.