Nairobi: The government has urged hospitality facilities across the country to designate tree planting spaces as part of the ongoing ‘One Tourist, One Tree’ initiative in a bid to promote sustainable tourism and boost environmental conservation. Speaking during a tree planting exercise at Sikawa Primary School TransMara West, Narok County to mark this year’s Mazingira Day, Tourism and Wildlife PS John Ololtuaa revealed that over 5,000 trees were planted by visitors during their tours in the just-concluded Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE).
According to Kenya News Agency, Ololtuaa noted that this milestone reflects the growing awareness about the importance of sustainable tourism among the travelers. The PS explained that modern travelers were increasingly conscious about environmental conservation and sought to contribute towards the same in the destinations they visited. He revealed that 8,000 trees were planted during the event marked Friday, under the theme ‘Citizen-Centric tree growing and environmental stewardship’ with a strategic component ‘return to school initiative.’
He said that by creating designated tree planting areas within hospitality facilities, greening of the environment will be achieved and every visitor will have a chance to leave a lasting impact on the surroundings. The PS further highlighted schools as a vital avenue for increasing forest cover and encouraged learners and managers to actively participate in tree-growing exercises as it was a key role in instilling conservation values among the youth, which will ensure that environmental stewardship becomes part of Kenya’s collective culture.
The PS said involving young people through schools and youth platforms would help nurture a generation that understands and values conservation. “Conservation is not just an activity but an investment in our sustainable future,” he said. Ololtuaa said environmental conservation will aid the government to achieve its target of having planted 15 billion trees by 2032, an initiative that aims to enhance carbon suppression, improve biodiversity, and strengthen community resilience against climate change.
The long-term national vision is to achieve 30 percent tree cover by 2050, building on progress that has already seen Kenya’s tree cover rise to 12 percent. The PS reaffirmed the tourism sector’s commitment to contribute to this national effort through initiatives like ‘One Tourist, One Tree’, which link tourism growth to environmental responsibility. He explained that a greener Kenya is not only good for our planet but also strengthens our brand as a sustainable destination for tourists.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism will continue to work closely with county governments, conservation agencies, schools, and the private sector among other partners to scale up tree planting efforts and solidify Kenya’s position as a leading sustainable tourism destination.