The government has unveiled a new forest ranger’s outpost at Nyangweta forest in Etago Sub-County, Kisii County to enhance forest conservation.

The commissioning is through a partnership between the government of Kenya in conjunction with the African Development Bank through the Green Zones Development Support Project (GZDSP) Phase II.

Kenya Forest Services (KFS), Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr Julius Kamau said the outpost will provide a footprint for forest officers and forest rangers to provide advice and security to the surrounding community and protect forest resources within the county.

Speaking during the commissioning of the facility, Kamau noted the facility is the first forest ranger’s outpost in the Gusii region and will ensure that KFS has a presence at the grassroots level with the aim of supporting the farmers and improving their livelihoods.

Further, Kamau lauded the forest officers at the regional and county levels for collaborating with the other government agencies.

He says it is crucial for them to work together to push the government’s agenda of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.

According to him, Kenya’s tree cover stands at 12.1 per cent while the forest cover is 8.83 per cent currently citing the new tree planting initiative will ensure the forest and tree covers attain 30 per cent.

Kamau pointed out that Kisii has a significant tree potential and urged locals to plant trees for a variety of purposes, including agroforestry species, fruit trees, and woodlots, in order to help the nation meet its target for planting trees.

He emphasised that by having their own trees on farms, inhabitants will be less reliant on forest resources for encroachment and illegal tree cutting if the goal of 30% tree cover and forest cover is reached.

The GZDSP Manager, Mr Jerome Mwanzia lauded the Kisii County Government and local residents for supporting the establishment of the forest ranger’s outpost.

He also said that six facilities are coming up in other counties to enhance KFS activities at the grassroots level to boost the morale of forest rangers as they will have a conducive environment to conduct regular patrols leading to a reduction in destructive activities within the forests.