•UK’s Liverpool City’s project in the competition is the URBAN GreenUP while Australia’s Melbourne has its Green Factor Tool project for consideration.
•The category seeks to support initiatives that give living green solutions such as street trees, green roofs and walls, and parks and gardens, all contributing to moderating the impacts of climate change.
Image: STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Mandera County, long perceived as a desert and conflict-ridden, could be declared the world's green city if it beats United Kingdom’s Liverpool and Australia’s Melbourne in a competition that ends on September 27.
Governor Mohamed Khalif’s administration has rolled out a greening initiative where nearly 300,000 trees have been planted to address frequent droughts.
He intends to plant a billion trees by the end of his five-year term. The county has enlisted some 1300 families to tend to trees planted within the municipality.
He said they would raise the trees with leftover water.
“Every moment they cleanse themselves for prayers, the water is not poured out as waste but used to hydrate the trees, shielding them from being dried up by the unforgiving sun.”
Every family will adopt a tree and nurture it.
The participating families are given a stipend of Sh10,000 monthly, motivating them to do the work and at the same time, affording them an avenue of income.
Mandera is competing with two first-world cities in the category dubbed “Living Green for Climate Change.”
The balloting and awarding of the succeeding city will take place at the Future Green City World Congress in Utrecht, the Netherlands starting on September 25.
The winner will bag the World Green City Award 2024.
UK’s Liverpool City’s project in the competition is the URBAN GreenUP while Australia’s Melbourne has its Green Factor Tool project for consideration.
The category seeks to support initiatives that give living green solutions such as street trees, green roofs and walls, and parks and gardens, all contributing to moderating the impacts of climate change.
“In solving problems such as the urban heat island effect and poor local air quality, nature-based solutions deliver quantifiable cash value to city authorities and enhance the quality of life,” an explainer said.
“I’m proud of this municipality greening project because it has not just transformed the face of Mandera, but also given it life and made our county a significant place of the future,” Khalif said.
Before the project started, the county grappled with massive winds that occasioned a plume of dust, not to mention the scorching sun with no shade to shelter from.
Since the trees have grown and covered the town, the county has experienced more rainy seasons than in the past. This has made it easy to harvest water and irrigate crops.
“Trees are life and I don’t regret committing taxpayers’ money to this project. It's a blessing that has multiple fruits. From the shades to shield the people here from the harsh sun to the more rainy seasons for growing food, to the aesthetic value, it is making Mandera a sustainable future city in this dry part of the country,” Khalif said.
“The momentous occasion is set to be hosted on September 25 at the Future Green City World Congress in Utrecht, the Netherlands. All finalist cities are invited to the awards ceremony and the full four-day programme by the Future Green City World Congress.
“AIPH, along with their network of partners, is proud to be celebrating the inspiring work that the Finalist cities are undertaking for plants, for nature, for people, and ultimately for the planet,” the city of Utrecht said in an invitation to participants.
In its competition entry papers, the county said the “afforestation programme stands as a beacon of hope and transformation in a challenging environment” and it “turned adversity into opportunity, offering a brighter future for our residents.”
“Our afforestation efforts enhance climate resilience in a region vulnerable to extreme weather events. We’ve empowered vulnerable individuals, particularly women and youth by providing stable incomes and reducing poverty. Indigenous communities, schools and youth actively participate, fostering environmental stewardship and ensuring the program’s sustainability,” the materials read.
The list of finalists in the competition will be delivered to the world-renowned jury, who will vote to select a winner in each category and a grand winner from the list of seven category winners in the second and final stage of judging.
The seven categories include living green for biodiversity and urban ecosystem restoration under which the South African cities of Durban and Tshwane as well as Chinese Chengdu city are competing.
New York City, São Paulo, Brazil and the City of Denver, United States will compete for Living Green for Health and Well-being award.
Riyadh City, City of Joondalup, Australia and Unaizah, Saudi Arabia are locking horns in Living Green for Water.
Living Green for Social Cohesion and Inclusive Communities is another category pitting Mexico City, Mexic, Belo Horizonte, Brazil and Niterói, Brazil for the prize.
The second last entry is Living Green for Urban Infrastructure and Liveability pitting Baia Mare, Romania, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and São Paulo, Brazil against each other.
Finally, living Green for Urban Agriculture and Food Systems pits Curitiba, Brazil, Cascais, Portugal and Munich, Germany for the win.