Kisumu County has introduced a restoration program to boost forest cover following concerns over the poor forest cover in the devolved unit, which currently stands at 2%.
According to Kisumu County Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili, the forest cover was one of the lowest in the country.
Speaking during World Environment Day celebrations in Kisumu, Owili said that measures have been implemented to carry out a major reforestation campaign at Karateng and Koguta gazetted forests to address the concern.
Further, he said that the initiative aims to plant three million trees to help the county bridge the gap and address climate change effects brought about by environmental degradation.
Dr. Owili said the Executive Order issued by Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o on November 16th, 2022, setting aside the 10th of every month as Kisumu City Tree Planting Day, shall be enforced to give impetus to the drive.
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He said all residents and county government staff will be required to plant trees and monitor their growth to ensure that the set target is reached.
Additionally, he said the county executive has developed a policy to make environmental conservation a core duty.
Owili said all county government workers shall be appraised to ensure they meet their targets.
Nevertheless, Owili said the county government will allocate resources through the budget towards environmental management, adaptation, and mitigation programs.
Other initiatives, he said, include establishing tree nurseries across the eight Sub-Counties, strengthening institutional capacity, and strengthening climate change units from the ward to the county levels.
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) County Director of Environment Lenard Ofula said land degradation remained a big challenge in the area, resulting in the pollution of Lake Victoria.
Water from agricultural land, he said, is washed into Lake Victoria, adversely affecting the delicate lake ecosystem.
He said this, coupled with desertification brought about by deforestation, was behind the effects of climate change in the area.
He said NEMA was on course to implement various initiatives to restore the environment in collaboration with the county government and other partners.
“During the planning period for these celebrations, the planning committee has overseen planting of 5,000 trees to help in the restoration efforts,” he said.
