Kenya to plant 5 billion trees in 5 years – Ruto
Kenya intends to plant five billion trees in the next five years through Special Presidential Forestry and Rangeland Restoration Programme.
Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations on Thursday, October 20, President William Ruto said the programme will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, various experts and partners in government, UN organisations, NGOs, and academia.
"The objective is to grow 5 billion trees in the next 5 years, and an additional 10 billion trees by 2032.
"This will eventually lead to the rehabilitation and restoration of 10.6 million hectares in the 290 constituencies, as well as some specially selected ecosystem and water towers threatened by degradation and destruction," he said.
Ruto said to achieve the plan, the government will support efforts by the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) to produce high-quality tree seed in their 18 Tree Seeds Centers countrywide.
"Agro-forestry and farming of avocados, mangoes, and macadamia will also open new value chains for our export market, creating new green jobs in the sector.
"I, therefore, urge all Kenyans to support the government’s call to grow at least 15 billion trees in the next 10 years. To achieve this target, every Kenyan should grow 300 trees," he stated.
Youth, women to plant trees
Reforestation in the presidential programme will be undertaken by youth and women groups, civil society, community, and religious organisations, leveraging on private sector and government financing.
"To ensure sustainable funding, Kenya is developing policies and strategies to tap into the global carbon market opportunities, accessible through carbon trading.
"Additionally, the Government will secure and protect public forests, rehabilitate and restore all degraded water towers and other forest ecosystems across the country," he added.
The government also intends to fence all fragile water towers and other ecosystems to protect them from encroachment.
At the same time, the government also plans to recruit 2,700 forest rangers and 600 forest officers to augment interventions in the forestry sector.
"Shortly, I will also be inaugurating the Climate Change Council that will steer Kenya’s climate action through stakeholder engagements coordinated in the presidency, as required by the Climate Change Act, 2016," he said.
