On Thursday, the County Government of Nyandarua embarked on an ambitious tree planting campaign for the 2016 long rains season, following a ceremony at Njomo Primary in Kipipiri Sub-County.
Our forests, both within and outside the protected areas, constitute some of our most important assets for water conservation, biodiversity and carbon reservoirs, as well as supporting the livelihood system for millions of Kenyans who interact on a daily basis with the trees.
In years gone by, our gallant forefathers found refuge in the depth of our forests in the Aberdares Ranges, during their perilous struggle against colonial rule.
Despite their immense importance, our forests continue to experience massive pressure as demand for expansion of agriculture, settlements, real-estate development and infrastructure continues to grow.
The ongoing campaign, therefore, underscores the commitment by the County Government of Nyandarua to address forestry development by celebrating the rainy season under the theme: ‘For a Green Economy, Wakenya Tupande Miti’, through which we hope to move Nyandarua towards a green economy.
Residents of Nyandarua understand that a green economy requires social and economic growth without compromising social inclusion, improving human welfare and creating opportunities for employment and decent work for all.
Towards this end, we trust that the ongoing finalisation of the Green Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan will guide the national and county governments, as well as the private sector, towards a higher economic growth grounded in a cleaner environment.
Through partnerships and the network of tree nurseries managed by the Kenya Forest Service, the private sector, individuals and communities, seedlings amounting to six million have been raised, ready for planting this rainy season.
While our farmers are good stewards for tree growing and have tremendously supplied wood and wood products for our economy, the private sector, Government agencies and our commercial banks supporting tree growing by schools and communities as part of their corporate social responsibility will be a much-needed boost to this campaign.
The county government is in the process of finalising its Nyandarua County Transition Implementation Planning (TIPs) draft for devolved forestry functions, to provide a clear roadmap for the implementation of devolved forestry functions within Nyandarua.
It is anticipated that this process will deepen the much-needed understanding at both the national and county government levels by outlining obligations in the sector.
This will, for us, include providing a wide range of support in the management of community and private forests while also identifying and setting apart land for forest reserves.
Already, county departments involved are moving with speed to identify such lands and entering into discussions with the Kenya Forest Service, the National Land Commission, communities and all other stakeholders so that we can collectively provide room for expanding areas under forest cover for our shared good.
The participation of the pupils of Njomo Primary School underscored the commitment by the county government to work with children as part of a long-term strategy for inculcating a tree-growing culture in Nyandarua.
While the national government has created at the national level its “Green Schools Programme,” to be financed by the Exchequer, Nyandarua will support the programme by financing additional schools under the same framework in order to accelerate its implementation, knowing that the county is vast, with a high diversity of tree species, which cumulatively have resulted into a standing cover of 18.44 per cent.
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Already, the county is partnering with various stakeholders to allocate resources for rehabilitation of areas identified as endangered by deforestation within Nyandarua towards expanding our forest cover by the year 2020, in addition to launching campaigns to protect water catchment areas and eradicating the use of firewood by popularising the use of biogas.
Further, we have sunk several boreholes and installed pumps to facilitate water supply in semi-arid parts of Nyandarua, and collaborated with key agencies towards the construction of mega dams in rivers Pesi, Malewa, Kinja and Chania to enhance water supply for our own use and benefit surrounding counties.
The National Youth Service has already helped us sink such dams as Rurii Kimotho and Kaimbaga Karima in Ol’Kalou Sub-county; Gathima, Wanjohi Kibubuti and Githioro Waithaka in Kipipiri Sub-County; Gathaara Mutungu in Kinangop Sub-County; and Muiguithania, Ndururi and Kiandongoro in Ndaragwa Sub-county.
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