PROFESSOR WANGARI MATHAI 10 MILLION TREE PLANTING CHALLENGE LAUNCHED
Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Anthony Muheria (left), Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga (2nd right) and other guests during the launch of the programme yesterday.
By Our Correspondent
Worth Noting:
- KEFRI has provided all the tonnes of seeds needed for this program which will be propagated, KFS is also raising one million tree seedlings in support of the program while the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KENGEN) has provided Kshs 300,000 worth potting papers.
- This initiative dubbed the ‘Wangari Mathai 10 million tree challenge’ targets raising of seedlings in 230 secondary schools in Nyeri to be later grown in the schools and surrounding communities, with the aim of increasing Nyeri’s tree/ forest coverage in Nyeri which in turn raises the national percentage and gets us closer to the required national 10%.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga was honoured to host the PS Ministry of Environment and Forestry Dr. Chris Kiptoo, Chief Conservator Julius Kamau and Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Rev. Anthony Muheria during the launch of the Wangari Mathai School Greening programme.
It is being piloted in Nyeri County in joint collaboration the Catholic Church Archdiocese of Nyeri, Ministry of Education, Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI) and the County Commissioners office.
The County Government of Nyeri has purchased potting papers and will be involved in the issuance of fruit seedlings to the schools involved in the program. It will also coordinate the program at the sub county level through the environmental officers and foresters. Together with KFS sub county foresters, they will offer technical support to the schools.
KEFRI has provided all the tonnes of seeds needed for this program which will be propagated, KFS is also raising one million tree seedlings in support of the program while the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KENGEN) has provided Kshs 300,000 worth potting papers.
This initiative dubbed the ‘Wangari Mathai 10 million tree challenge’ targets raising of seedlings in 230 secondary schools in Nyeri to be later grown in the schools and surrounding communities, with the aim of increasing Nyeri’s tree/ forest coverage in Nyeri which in turn raises the national percentage and gets us closer to the required national 10%.
Currently, Nyeri is leading countrywide in terms of tree coverage at 38%. Governor Kahiga noted that the program will be a great milestone for the county in enhancement of climate change adaptation and mitigation; further enabling the county to achieve its target of 42% tree cover.
Yesterday, the PS flagged off 2.1 tonnes of tree seedlings to be implemented in Phase 1 which is covering 95 secondary schools across all the eight sub counties with the target being to raise five million tree seedlings. The selected schools are required to raise 20,000 tree seedlings each. The tree seedlings will be planted in the schools and others will be issued to farmers in support of on-farm forestry.
The programme has been named in honour of the Nobel Peace prize winner, the late Prof. Wangari Mathai, who hailed from Nyeri County in commemoration of her efforts towards conservation of the environment.
They had earlier paid the governor a courtesy call to his office.
Also present were Nyeri CS Ben Gachichio, Water and Environment CEC Fredrick Kinyua, Water Chief Officer Pauline Ndegwa, Director Environment Yvonne Mathenge, Jane Njuguna (KFS) among others.
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