Kenya and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to help increase forest cover as part of efforts to protect the country from environmental destruction.
The program dubbed “Greening Kenya” campaign will ensure that about 50 million tree seedlings are planted from May.
Keriako Tobiko, cabinet secretary for Ministry of Environment and Forestry said that current tree cover in Kenya stands at 7.2% leaving a gap of 1.6 million hectares that require 1.8 billion seedlings.
“Kenya is among the low forest cover countries way below the internationally recommended 10% threshold for environmental stability.”
He said that the government requires $445 million by 2022 to support the afforestation program all over the country.
Tobiko attributed low forest cover in Kenya to over-exploitation of forest resources and impacts of climate change.
“Climate change has led to negative impacts such as; frequent cyclic droughts, rising temperatures, reduced water levels, erratic rainfall and destructive floods.”
The ‘Greening Kenya’ programme is projected to establish between 30,000 – 40,000 Ha of forests by 2022 and increase forest cover from 7% to 10%.
Juliette Biao, director and regional representative at UNEP, said that the UN agency is ready to forge together with the government in ensuring that the environmental goals set by the UN Environment Assembly are met by member states.
