A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) is planning to engage all schools across the country to plant 1.5 million trees during the El-Niño rains.
Hearts of Green organization launched the ambitious initiative dubbed ‘Adopt-a-Tree Programme’ that aims at ensuring every school-going child in the country plants and cares for a tree seedling.
The organization’s chief executive (CEO) Moses Muya said the programme is in tandem with the government’s plans to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 to restore forest cover and tackle climate change.
Muya spoke on Saturday at Kenyatta University Teaching, Research and Referral Hospital (KUTRRH) after planting some 600 tree seedlings in collaboration with Kanisa Sacco, Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Nairobi Women’s Hospital.
“We have already kicked off the programme with the planting of 200,000 seedlings in eight counties in Western, Nyanza and Central regions in the last two weeks,” Muya said.
The CEO noted that the organization, together with other partners, will provide indigenous and fruit tree seedlings to schools in target regions, and in turn the school children will plant the trees and nurture them throughout their school life.
Muya observed that since its inception in 2016, the NGO has planted over 17 million trees in various parts of the country, which has immensely contributed to the country’s forest cover. He noted that the Adopt-a-tree programme has proved to be effective in restoring forests.
He rallied corporate entities and institutions across the country to join efforts and help the government accomplish the initiative.
“Approximately 750 million trees need to be planted annually for the next 20 years to reach 15 billion trees. This staggering number highlights the magnitude of the challenge,” Muya said.
His sentiments were echoed by Godfrey Muraguri and Ann Kioi, the CEO and chairperson of Kanisa Sacco respectively, who rallied for commitment from both governmental and corporate sectors, coupled with the involvement of youth-led initiatives to safeguard Kenya’s natural resources and combat climate change.
“We have been engaging in tree planting activities as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and we have gone ahead to allocate a budget towards improving and sustaining the initiative. It’s imperative for all stakeholders to partner in such crucial developments,” Muraguri said.
Elijah Ngochi, a youth leader in the Sacco, pleaded with youth across the country to form groups and embark on tree planting initiatives, saying that this will attract government help and funding.
By Kamau Njoroge
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