By Ben Leshau
Boost for the forest conservation in the Maasai Mau forest as a Japan-based organization launch a school tree planting programme dubbed “Trees for Books” in seven primary schools along the forest buffer.
The Toyota Motor Corporation Environment Program me (Japan) that started two years ago targeting two Wards; Olorropil and Olokurto Wards that border the larger Mau forest is aimed that increasing the forest cover as well as involving children in conservation efforts.
According the Programme Coordinator Amos Biwott,the project targets over 40,000 tree seedlings with each of the seven schools being given seeds and expected to produce over 5,000 seedlings.
In a bid to motivate the pupils to develop passion on environmental matters the Japanese organization in return rewarded them with text books.
“This programme started last year where we issued seedlings,and transplanting tubes,to the targeted schools where the school will make the nursery beds then afterwards they plant the 10 percent trees within their school compound,”said Mr Biwott.
The official said the surplus seedlings will in return be given to the parents around the schools to plant in their farms in a bid to restore the dwindling forest cover accrued as a result of destructive human activities in the forest.
Among the primary schools where the project is being undertaken include Olorupa,Naitupaki,Ilkumae,Enarau,St Theresa,Ilparakua,Olenooseria.