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The Green World organisation targets to plant 200,000 seedlings in schools to improve forest cover in Homa Bay.
Homa Bay has 2.6 per cent forest cover, which is way below the government requirement of at least 10 per cent.
Tree planting activities are done in 200 selected public primary and secondary schools in the county. Each school gets 1,000 seedlings.
The trees are quick varieties of eucalyptus and grevillea, which mature in five years, if taken care of well.
The organisation's secretary Isaac Otieno said they are starting with Ojwando Primary School in Kasipul constituency before they proceed to other places.
“The project aims to improve forest cover and reduce land degradation. The trees will be harvested after maturity and people will get money,” he said.
Otieno spoke during the launch of the project at Ojwando Primary School in Kasipul constituency on Tuesday.
He said the trees will improve the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air, providing clean air.
“The process will reduce carbon emission in the atmosphere,” Otieno said.
The school deputy head teacher Willis Odhiambo said they will also use the project in implementing the Competency Based Curriculum.
“CBC requires practical activities, which the project will help implement. The project will also enhance childrens' understanding,” he said.
The project, he says, is also aimed at combating adverse effects of climate change by correcting the fluctuating rainfall patterns.
“Planting trees in our schools will boost the amount of rainfall,” Odhiambo said.
Many farmers in Homa Bay complain of low amounts of rainfall which has impeded crop production.
Green World also planted about one million trees in prisons and government offices, to improve forest cover in Homa Bay.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
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