ULTIMATE LEADER ACADEMY, Machakos County, July 28 –The concerted quest to reach 15 billion trees by 2032, as envisioned by President William Ruto, continues to gain momentum as a local environmental conservation organisation collaborates with schools to champion this worthy course.
According to the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, as of 2021, Kenya’s forest cover stood at 8.8 percent, slightly below the minimum target of 10 percent set by Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.
It’s also geared towards reaching the goal of restoring 10.6 million hectares of degraded land as aligned with the UNDP’s Sustainable Development Goals like Climate Action (13), Clean Energy (7), and Oceans (14) respectively.
Consequently, the Government increased the tree cover target from 10 percent to 30 percent during the launch of the National Program for Accelerated Forestry and Rangelands Restoration.
“This initiative seeks to mitigate the significant impacts of climate change, including floods, droughts, and unpredictable weather patterns.”
KIPPRA emphasizes that these initiatives are strategically aimed at offering support to the broader goals outlined in the Paris Agreement, where the country has committed to a substantial 32 percent reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) by the year 2030.
To enhance these conservation efforts, the Nature Hub Collective Organisation, in close partnership with the Ultimate Leader Muumandu Academy, kick-started the tree planting initiative in Machakos town earlier today.
The exercise, which will also be rolled out in various schools dotting the region, saw students plant 200 trees.
According to Nature Hub’s representative, Fredrick Kioko, they chose the school because their organisation is based in Machakos County.
“We will establish a tree nursery with 10,000 seedlings that will serve as a resource for nearby educational institutions. ‘The students play a crucial role in our daily lives,’ Kioko (Bespectacled Second Left) stated, encouraging them to take the lead in environmental conservation efforts.
The School Principal, Patrick Muange, (inset below), reiterated their commitment to the program, adding that: “It will ensure a safe and clean environment, thus attracting adequate rainfalls to improve food security.”
Mr Muange further encouraged parents and children to embrace the ideas, terming it an income-generating activity aimed at achieving sustainable livelihoods.
As the school boss jointly with the teachers, he assured that he will strive to ensure that tree planting becomes a continuous exercise.
Alice Sheila, one of the students who participated in the tree planting exercise said that planting trees has different benefits like combating Climate Change, improving air and water quality.
“We appreciate the Nature Hub team for this great milestone,” she concluded.
