Envoys have urged the government to enlighten people more on environment so that they can put more effort in taking care of it.
Colombia deputy ambassador to Kenya Claudia Milena Vica said environmental groups should be trained well on tree planting.
She said for a community to protect the environment, they must be enlightened adequately about it.
She spoke on Friday at Kenya Forestry and Research Institute in Muguga in Kiambu during the closure of the three days research expo, dubbed The First Kenya Commercial Forestry Investment Conference and Expo 2021.
Others present were Sweden ambassador to Kenya Caroline Vicini and Glovanna Valverde, who made her presentation virtually.
The expo was also attended by Kefri director Joshua Cheboiwo and Environment Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo.
Vicini said the country’s population was growing thus new homes were being built and more wood was being used.
“Kenya is growing fast and building and homes are being built owing to the rise of population. During these constructions, wood is being used since people want to be left with better houses,” she said.
She asked the government and environmentalists to enlighten the community well about the need to keep planting more trees at homes, at farms and in the forests.
Milena said the country experiences the same challenges her country had some years ago, owing to illegal logging.
She noted that with better research, training people on environment and monitoring, the country’s forest cover can rise again.
Milena also asked the timber dealers to consider planting commercial forests so that public forests can be protected at all times.
She noted that Kefri and environmentalists will be there to advise them on which trees to grow.
Kiptoo said the government’s plan was to ensure forest cover had risen to more than 10 per cent after 2022.
“We aim to attain at 10 per cent forest cover by 2022, but thereafter, we shall aim higher so that we can find ourselves going a bit far. We have embarked on planting two billion seedlings per year,” he said.
He revealed that the government will put into practise all the proposals given by stakeholders, experts and different leaders in the expo.
Kiptoo applauded Kefri for advising the government through research on issues regarding environment.