CS TOBIKO URGES COMMUNITY-LED APPROACH TO RESTORE LANDSCAPES

Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko has underscored the importance of involving communities to achieve holistic restoration of degraded landscapes.

The CS noted that indigenous knowledge of climate change was always available within the local communities and must be utilized if restoration initiatives were to succeed.

CS Tobiko said that the country was determined to achieve 10 % tree cover by 2022 as directed by the president. To achieve this he disclosed, new frontiers of tree growing were now in farm land forestry and dry land forestry. This incorporated the element of livelihoods for communities he noted, adding that “A business model of tree growing among communities will enhance their livelihoods as they would reap benefits”.

He reiterated that H.E the president had declared during the national tree planting event in May that Environment Conservation was the bedrock in which the government’s Big 4 Agenda of Food Security, Universal Health, Affordable Housing and Manufacturing is anchored.

The CS pointed out that the country’s 2010 constitution guaranteed all citizens a clean, healthy, safe and sustainably managed environment as a fundamental right.

CS Tobiko was speaking at his office when he received officials of the”Embassy of the Earth” Foundation who made a courtesy call on him.

The International Foundation is a peace and restoration organization that operates under the principal of “One earth is enough for the whole world”. It will initially be focusing on Maasai Mara region and the neighboring degraded ecosystems.

The officials led by the Foundations Director Frank Heckman plans to restore degraded parts of the country’s ecosystem through working with the communities to achieve a holistic approach in community land restoration. Others included Solomon M. Lombaa chairman of peace in Kajiado County who is also a honorary warden, Richard Hatfield of Mara training Centre, Nelson Ole Reiya of Nashulai Maasai Conservancy, Dalmas Tiampati of the Maasai Centre for Regenerative Pastoralism and Janice Ngoyato, a local leader. The Foundation operates under the principle of creating an environment in which responsible people go beyond self interest to serve a common purpose.  They believe in a community of people that can dream of possible futures and create new realities at the same time adapting to new challenges. It mediates between complex issues and people who are willing to help solve such issues.

The CS was accompanied by the Forestry Secretary Gedion Gathaara and Ali Mohammed, the special adviser on environment matters.

He added that ‘’ in order to have a guided stewarded shipin restoration of the degraded landscapes, the organization must involve the youth, women all members of the community including Chiefs, Laibons and faith led organizations.