First Lady Rachael Ruto has launched a million tree planting initiative in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to conserve the Cherangany, Elgeyo Hills and Northern Mau water towers.

Speaking during the launch in Kitany within Sabor forest in Keiyo South Sub County, the First Lady said the initiative is intended to address the challenges brought about by the far-reaching consequences of the depletion of forests in the country.

“The depletion of forest has impacted on water availability, increasing risk of natural disasters and contributed to climate change and therefore we must take immediate action to reverse the trend,” she said.

Further, she noted that the initiative will transform lives and communities by empowering them to develop sustainable livelihoods, enabling them to become environmental stewards of nurturing and protecting their natural surroundings.

“By engaging you today, we are providing you with skills, knowledge and resources to develop sustainable livelihoods,” she said.

The exercise organized by the Eldoret Iten water fund saw 13,000 trees planted as part of the activities within the catchment, which covers an area of 6,774km2 with a population of about 1.6 million people from both Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.

The TNC regional director Ademola Ajagbe said his organization partnered with the First Lady to accelerate the scale of their impact, citing the need for enhancing environmental conservation and management with the people’s livelihood concerns.

He said the reduced forest cover resulted from expansive smallholder farming activities, which experts say account for nearly 80 per cent of deforestation and 70 per cent of land biodiversity loss, among others.

The regional director said the one million tree initiative will focus on providing tree seedlings and technical expertise to local communities by distributing and planting over 200,000 grafted fruit trees, 50,000 macadamia nut trees, 100,000 bamboo trees, 200,000 fodder trees and over 400,000 agroforestry and indigenous trees.

“Climate change and a wide range of human activities are impacting habitats at unprecedented and unsustainable rates. We need to mobilize community action, broaden partnerships, harness conservation investments, and influence public policy to put nature at the centre stage”, said Ajagbe.