The Kenya Forest Service now targets to plant at least 300 million trees in 2024.
In a statement released on Friday, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) emphasized its ongoing and intensified initiatives aimed at achieving the national goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
The service underscored that this concerted effort is crucial not only for mitigating the effects of climate change but also for fostering the socio-economic well-being of the country.
On the same day, Chief Conservator of Forests, Alex Lemarkoko, took the lead, guiding the senior management team, staff at the headquarters, and members of the Uplands Community Forest Association (CFA) in planting over 5,000 indigenous tree seedlings.
The seedlings were planted in an effort to rehabilitate a five Hectares parcel of land at Matathia Bloc, Uplands Forest Station in Kiambu County.
“As an Institution mandated with conservation and protection forests, our staff actively engage and lead in the tree growing activities within their respective service area,” KFS said in a statement.
“We not only provide the technical support but also get our hands dirty by doing the actual tree growing,” KFS said.
Lemarkoko outlined to the CFA members who joined the staff in the tree planting exercise that KFS depends on them and all Kenyans to ensure the growth of the trees.
This is in implementing the all government - all society approach towards the achievement of the tree-growing target.
Lemarkoko emphasized the service's dedication to collaborating with CFAs for water conservation and the restoration of wetland ecosystems.
The restoration campaign prioritizes fruit trees due to their added economic value for livelihood development.
Additionally, Lemarkoko issued a strong warning to illegal loggers, underscoring that they will face strict and uncompromising consequences.
He urged foresters and forest rangers not to engage in harassment but to ensure that these individuals are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
"Deal with lawbreakers accordingly. No one is allowed to destroy forests and their vegetation. Do not harass them once you arrest them. Let them face the full force of the law," he directed.