Uasin gishu County attains the 10% forest cover amid efforts to plant more trees
The Kenya Red Cross Society, a humanitarian organization, has embarked on a “Back to the roots” campaign that aims to bridge the gap of conservation by planting over 22,000 tree seedlings in various government forests within Uasin Gishu County.
On Saturday the Red Cross society in collaboration with other institutions engaged the Kapseret community in planting over 1,000 pine trees at the Kapseret forest station.
Alice Njeri Kamau the Kenya Red Cross Society Uasin Gishu Branch coordinator said that the aim of the exercise was to promote peace and cohesion after the 2022 general election and as well as improve on the county’s forest cover.
“We have partnered with a number of institutions such as the Uasin Gishu Journalists Association, The CocaCola company , Unga Company , Rift valley technical training institute , Vera beauty College among other institutions to plant trees with an aim of mitigating climate change as well as harness the carbon absorbing potential of trees,” Alice said.
Joseph Ondieki,The manager Kapseret forest Station urged the Surrounding community to desist from deforestation and noted that Uasin Gishu has already attained the 10% forest cover as required by the Kenya Forest act of 2015.
“Deforestation affects the rainfall patterns and this affects planting seasons; it leads to soil erosion, siltation in rivers and dams which results in endangering marine and human life, ”Ondieki said.
The community benefits economically, socially and financially from the Kapseret forest and by involving them in the conservation it reduces the risks of deforestation.
“Farmers cultivating around the forest station benefit economically when they harvest crops under the Shamba system, We also have farmers who after paying a fee graze their cows in the forest but the major reason for involving the community is ownership of the forest by them,”Ondieki added
Over 20,000 trees will be planted in a 25.25 acres of land Kapseret forest before the end of Next year.
By Ryan kiprono