1 day Ago By KNA6
In a major boost to Kwale County’s environmental conservation and sustainability efforts, over 290,000 tree seedlings are set to be distributed under the Global Ever Greening Alliance’s Restore Africa Program. County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture Roman Shera says the devolved government is committed to environmental conservation and sustainability with tree planting. Shera, while noting that tackling the environmental challenges headlong requires collaborative partnerships, said the new campaign with partners reflects an urgent response to the ecological challenges facing the coastal county with a focus on long-term solutions that engage the community at every level.
He says the devolved government is seeking to use nature to adapt to climate change and that the tree-planting initiative is part of a wider attempt to improve the livelihoods of rural communities by restoring damaged ecosystems. The County Agriculture Executive says the programme aims to restore 70,000 hectares of land in Kwale and directly improve the livelihoods of 50,000 smallholder farmers by 2027. He underscored the need to protect the environment from the negative effects of climate change and secure a healthier future for posterity.
Currently the national government is championing a campaign to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 in a bid to increase the country’s forest cover from 12 percent to 30 percent. Shera says the new initiative is part of broader efforts by the national government to enhance biodiversity, support climate change mitigation and emphasized the importance of tree planting as a necessary step in combating climate change and desertification. He underscored the county government’s unwavering commitment to combat climate change through collaborative, farmer-led restoration strategies.
“The tree planting initiative is part of a broader strategy to engage various community groups in conservation activities,” he said. Shera says the new programme also seeks to work closely with smallholder farmers to restore degraded landscapes, improve livelihoods, and strengthen community resilience to climate change. He went further: ‘we are proud to work hand in hand with our partners and the people of Kwale to rehabilitate our land, improve livelihoods, and secure a sustainable future for our people.
’ The initiative, which was launched in Vanga Ward Lunga Lunga Sub County marks a key milestone in the implementation of the Restore Africa Programme (RESAf), the world’s largest farmer-led, nature-based restoration initiative, which is spearheaded in Kenya by World Vision and a consortium of development partners. Shera stressed that these collaborations are key to promoting climate resilience, raising awareness, and ensuring sustainable change. “The impact of climate change is enormous and we want all and sundry to support this project of tree planting since it will go a long way in reducing the amount of carbon that is in the environment,” he said.
He stressed the importance of balancing economic development with environmental protection, ensuring the well-being of both present and future generations. “This initiative is going to boost agricultural productivity and build resilience among our farmers,” Shera noted, adding that the county is committed to providing technical support through its agricultural extension officers. The CECM for Agriculture says the project will help the communities to adopt sustainable livelihoods and climate-resilient agricultural techniques in order to decrease their vulnerability to climate change and reduce degradation of forest ecosystems.
World Vision Kenya’s Acting National Director, Lillian Mageto who attended the launch of the tree-planting initiative, praised Kwale County’s leadership and the enthusiasm of local farmers to protect the environment from flooding and extreme weather conditions. “We are not only planting trees, but we are also sowing hope, resilience, and economic opportunity and with over 20,000 farmers already on board in Kwale, this is proof that community-driven action works,” she said. She said the program’s multifaceted approach includes training on agroforestry, Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), sustainable value chain development, and financial literacy to promote eco-conscious business practices.
Mageto said planting trees will go a long way in helping improve soil retention, preventing soil erosion, reducing water loss, and creating a greener and more resilient landscape..
