The Global Peace and Development Service Alliance (GPDSA) courtesy of Global Peace Foundation in collaboration with the Chandaria Foundation, Safal MRM Foundation, the Standard Media Group, the PLO Lumumba Foundation, Farm Kenya, Kenya Forest Service, Emploi Company Limited, among other partners on Monday 17th May 2021 launched a week-long tree planting exercise at the Mabati Technical Training Institute in Mariakani, Kilifi county.
The exercise dubbed “Mega Tree Planting Initiative “that saw over 10,000 tree seedlings planted in the coastal region, seeks to enhance the adopt a tree initiative in support of the 10% forest cover in Kenya. The tree planting was specifically carried out in churches, mosques, government offices and other public places whose administration demonstrated a good will towards their maintenance as part of the key sustainability of the drive hence reclaiming a greener Kenya.
Today Kenya faces high rates of deforestation that endangers both its flora and fauna causing a lot of havoc that has led to desertification, increased green house in the atmosphere, climate change and flash floods. This calls for action towards reversing this trend.
He added that the tree planting drive has been pushed a lot by COVID-19 pandemic whereby oxygen has become more expensive.
The Global Peace Foundation therefore, feels more obliged to support the drive to focus on youth through our County Ambassadors.
As the country is grappling with shortage of medicinal oxygen during this pandemic period, Juma added that this oxygen can be acquired by planting trees across the country and that is why we are on a high gear towards this drive.
“It is difficult to stay a minute without oxygen and this has been witnessed during this pandemic period. With the mushrooming of industries in the world, we need more trees so as to fight against climate change which is a threat to our lives”, said Khan.
Elvis Fondo working with the Kenya Forest Services in Kilifi county said they were at 7.2% forest cover which is still below the 10% mark hence welcoming the planting drive.
“We at KFS can’t manage to bring the forest cover to 10% without partnership. I call upon Kenyans to plant only manageable number of trees rather than planting many trees which they won’t take care of”, said Fondo. He urged Kenyans to plant trees at the start of rainy season other than at the offset.
During the event a total of 10,000 seedlings planted were distributed as per the table below:
Kilifi county and Mombasa counties.
a} KILIFI COUNTY
| SCHOOL(SECONDARY) | PERSON RESPONSIBLE | NUMBER OF TREES |
| Dr. Kraph Memorial | Mr. Kosgei | 40 |
| Changombe secondary | Mr. Kiprotich | 40 |
| Mwandodo Secondary | Mr. Fredrick Ouma | 40 |
| Sokoke Secondary | Mr. Katana Levu | 2000 |
| CHURCHES | PERSON RESPONSIBLE | |
| Mwele PEFA church | Rev. Benard Dena | 40 |
| St Simeon Mwangutwa | Rev. Morris Mwambawa | 40 |
| Ribe Methodist Church | Mr. Fooster Katana | 40 |
| MOSQUES | PERSON RESPONSIBLE | |
| Masjid Farjalah | Ustadh Farjal Ahmed | 40 |
| Masjid Fatma | Mrs. Anna Almasi | 40 |
| Masjid Bi Faatma | Ustadh Hussain Tsuma | 40 |
| Masjid Khadijah | Ustadh Fadhil Khassim | 40 |
| GOVERNMENT INSTITUTES | PERSON RESPONSIBLE | |
| Mwele Sub-chief Office | Mr. Samuel Chandago(sub-chief Mwele) | 40 |
| Mwawesa sub-county offices | Mr. Peter Mbugua (Sub-County Agricultural Officer | 40 |
| Kambe Ribe Police Station | Mr. Rajab Munga (OCS Kambe) | 40 |
| B} MOMBASA COUNTY INSTITUTION | PERSON RESPONSIBLE | NUMBER OF TREES |
| Shimo La Tewa High School | Mr. Mutiso | 1000 |
| Shimo La Tewa Primary | Mr. Mulei | 600 |
| Utange Primary School | Madam Sule | 200 |
| Hasan Joho Girls | Madam Firdhous | 300 |
| ACK Kashani | Madam Nina Mataka | 500 |
| ACK Mbungoni | Mr. John Thoya | 50 |
| Mwatambaploice Station | OCS James Mwanzia | 50 |
| Kadzandani Primary | Madam Ikiy Bakari | 100 |
| Bridge of Hope School | Mr. Peter Mwaura | 100 |
| Kisauni Dispensary | Mr. Edgar | 50 |
| Freretown Multi- purpose Hall | Mr. Alber Marafa | 50 |
| Access office | 100 | |
| Toto Africa Organization | Madam Tina | 100 |
| Chiefs Office kwa Bullo | Mr. Evans | 50 |
| Agape church | Madam Sarah | 100 |
The button is passed to area leaders and residents to continue planting more trees, while protecting the exististing ones.
Some of the proposed challenges were:
The increased deforestation in the country and the less percentage of the forest cover. A lot of areas face water shortage and this affects sustainability of the trees planted.
- Unreliable and delayed rainfall.
- Porous fencing in some institutions thus leading to communal attacks.
- Lack of tools to facilitate the tree planting exercise.
Recommendations
- There is need for installation of reserve water tanks and boreholes.
- Capacity building and mentorship trainings to both teachers and learners.
- Formation of the environmental clubs in most of the learning institutions.
- There was a request to enhance the school perimeter fencing.
Conclusion
The Mega Tree Planting Initiative drew much attention with the Kenya Methodist Church expressing an interest in offering a parcel of land to establish Dr. Manu Chandaria Forest.
There was essence to enhance collaborations between churches, learning institutions, and government offices on areas of community policy.
There is a need to carry out follow-up and follow through to allow for proper maintenance of the seedlings planted.
Finally, the initiative courtesy of the Global Peace County Ambassadors looks forward to engage local institutions to provide spaces to be utilized in setting up tree nurseries as part of the 1million tree campaign to encourage youth volunteerism thus enhancing environmental social enterprise.
For more information about the event, kindly refer to the links attached below: