OPERATIONALIZE TREE GROWING CS DIRECTS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

CS Keriako Tobiko together with DCC Mwatate Damaris Kimondo waters down a commemorative tree at the county commissioners office in Mwatate.

Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko has challenged the County Commissioners to operationalize tree growing to ensure the target of 5 million trees each year per County is achieved.

“The President’s directive which include establishment of Chiefs tree nurseries in every location countrywide should be operationalized to ensure there are enough seedlings to be planted countrywide”. The CS said.

Tobiko called on county commissioners to bring on board all government agencies and have a plan on how to achieve the 5 million tree seedlings as directed.

The CS decried the critical low tree cover in Taita Taveta County which stands at 3.6% and called for aggressive tree growing campaign to meet the minimum target which is 10% tree cover by 2022.

The CS challenged the County Commissioner to use schools to establish nurseries, plant and nurture trees to ensure their survival.

He called for map out of schools and learning institutions in the county to establish the size of land, population of students and whether the school is fenced, this he said will go a long way in ensuring the survival of tree seedlings planted.

The CS said students should be encouraged to plant and adopt a tree every rainy season to inculcate the culture of tree growing as well as increase the county’s tree cover to the recommended 10%.

The CS was speaking in Taita Taveta County Commissioners office in Mwatate where he paid courtesy call, he was received by Mwatate Sub County Deputy County Commissioner Damaris Kimondo.

The meeting was also attended by Taita Taveta CEC in charge of Environment Gertrude Shue, KEFRI Chairman Dr Sammy Letema and Director Joshua Cheboiywo, Director of Administration in the Ministry Henry Obino among other officials.

CS Tobiko distributes tree seedlings to residents of Bura at Mchungunyi forest.