20 Million Trees Campaign Will Help Kenya to Meet Reforestation Targets
Kenya’s ambassador to the UK, Mr Lazarus Amayo
ITF’s 20 Million Trees campaign will play a vital role in helping to reverse deforestation and meet international commitments for sustainable development, Kenya’s ambassador to the UK, Mr Lazarus Amayo said last week.
Speaking at the official London launch of ITF’s biggest and most ambitious campaign, Mr Amayo said work by ITF and its partners would help Kenya realise its ambition to increase forest cover from 6.9 per cent to 10 per cent of total land area during the next three years.
The 20 Million Trees campaign, launched as part of the build up to ITF’s centenary in 2024, will target degraded areas in all five of Kenya’s “Water Towers” – upland forests which are the source of Kenya’s rivers and water supplies.
Mr Amayo said: “The campaign, working with local communities the young and old, women and men, will enhance the vital role that trees play in agricultural landscapes and rural livelihoods
“Further the campaign aims to work at national level with all diverse communities from all parts of the country. This will not only contribute towards reforestation efforts but will also help in conserving our water towers which are vital for our future.”
He said work by ITF and its partners would form part of plans to reverse the environmental degradation associated with rapid economic development since Kenya’s achieved independence from the UK in 1963. Over the past ten years the Government had already gone some way towards achieving this by increasing forest cover from a low point of five per cent.
“In addition to increasing the forest cover, the programmes also include protection of forests, enhancement of biodiversity conservation, water catchment protection and provision of other environmental benefits,” he said.
“There are clear indications we may be able to attain 10 per forest cover in next three years and with your help this may be realised even much sooner.”
Mr Amayo said the campaign would form part of a wider commitment by the Kenyan government toward sustainable development.
“During the COP 21 summit in Paris Kenya joined other countries legally binding 1.5 per cent of carbon emissions by 2020. The commitment by the government will ensure availability and sustainable management of forest resources, eradicate poverty and help with job creation.
“All these are not just policies on paper – Kenya is committed to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals which will include a commitment to end deforestation by 2020.”
More than 80 people attended the launch event in London including campaign partners, business leaders and members of London’s Kenyan community
Paulino Mugendi, founder and chair of ITF partner Mount Kenya Environmental Conservation described how volunteers from MKEC will undertake the huge logistical task of cultivating, transporting and planting out the first five million trees on the slopes of Mount Kenya Forest.
ITF Vice Chair Roger Leakey, a world expert on agroforestry, explained how using trees in agriculture is helping break the cycle of land degradation and poverty by helping communities to improve soil fertility and increase crop yields.
Apart from Mount Kenya, the initiative will target the four other Water Towers: The Aberdares, Mount Elgon, the Cherangani Hills, and the Mau Complex. Kakamega Forest, Kenya’s only rainforest, will also be targeted.
Plans are well advanced for the campaign’s Nairobi launch on Thursday, April 14.
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