By James Wakahiu
Mount Kenya University (MKU) will partner with Kenya Forest Services (KFS) and other environment related state agencies to boost the government’s efforts to achieve the 10 per cent forest cover target, Vice-Chancellor Prof Deogratius Jaganyi has announced.
Prof Jaganyi, while speaking at a tree planting during MKU Annual Environment Day where indigenous and medicinal trees were planted, directed the university’s directorate of linkages, partnerships and collaborations and relevant faculties in the institution to initiate collaborations with the Kenya Forestry College and KFS to facilitate the project.
The collaborations, the VC said would see the varsity obtain seedlings for distribution to Kenyans in counties through their campuses located in various parts in the country, adding that MKU’s Environmental Club would also be included to boost the initiative to reclaim the forest cover, which will involve a sustained three planting campaign and related annual events.
“As a University, we also need to have a high target of the number of trees we need to have planted by end of next year, ensure they are watered and protected and report this to our community outreach documents,” the Don said during the event that was graced by university founder Prof Simon Gicharu, Pro-Chancellor Dr. Vincent Gaitho and Assistant Chief Conservator of forests James Mwang’ombe.
According to the Quarterly Magazine of KFS (2019), the government through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has come up with a strategy to guide the attainment of the constitutional requirement for a 10 percent tree cover in Kenya in line with the Kenya Vision 2030.
“The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) supports and encourages private entities such as universities and individuals to develop private forests and other conservation mechanisms such as the botanical garden of MKU,” Wang’ombe said.
Prof Gicharu, who graced the event disclosed that the varsity’s School of Pure and Applied Sciences in collaboration with the Nottingham Trent University(NTU) and other partners had won a grant of approximately Sh110 million to be utilized in the restoration of Brackenhurst Forest, in Limuru, Kiambu.
The activities, he said, will include assessment and protection of indigenous medicinal plants of Brackenhurst Forest and determination of the medicinal components of the plants leading to their protection as well as documentation and protection of indigenous medical plants.
