Kenya has plans to plant 15 billion trees in 10 years
In a move to promote afforestation efforts, Kenyans were given a special holiday to plant 100 million trees. This is part of the government’s goal to plant 15 billion trees in 10 years. The initiative encourages every Kenyan citizen to plant at least two seedlings, leading to the 100 million target, in a quest to fight climate change.
On November 13, 2023, President William Ruto led the tree-planting initiative in Makueni, in the eastern part of the country. Cabinet ministers and other officials were also sent to other regions to lead the process alongside the county to further encourage public participation. The government is making about 150 million seedlings available in public nurseries. They are providing the seedlings for free to be planted in designated public areas, but they also encourage people to buy at least two seedlings to plant on their land.
The government has also come up with an internet app to monitor the exercise by allowing individuals and organisations to record activities, including the plant species, number and date planted. However, environmentalists have raised concerns regarding the intent of the initiative as well as the science.
According to experts, the initiative has not been set up to incentivise or raise awareness among people. There is also criticism regarding planting exotic trees in unfavourable geographical areas. The government has also been criticised for championing tree planting while failing to tame illegal logging in public forests.
Kenya recently lifted a ban on logging, even though the country is currently grappling with heavy El Nino rains that have killed dozens of people. But despite the criticism, the Kenyan government remain hopeful and expects 500 million trees to be planted by the end of the rainy season in December.
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