Embu: The Kenya Forest Service (KFS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Industry, and the local community, is making significant strides in the rehabilitation of 500 hectares of the degraded Irangi Forest located in Embu County. The forest, spanning 15,501 hectares, hosts a variety of wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, colobus monkeys, dik-diks, and numerous bird species such as hornbills and pigeons.
According to Kenya News Agency, County Forest Conservator Miriam Kamau stated that 400 hectares have been rehabilitated since the launch of The National Tree Growing Restoration Campaign on December 21, 2022. The campaign aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, focusing on climate change mitigation and land restoration efforts.
Kamau highlighted the ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the remaining 100 hectares, emphasizing the importance of monitoring the growth of planted seedlings. She noted that human activities, along with damage caused by wildlife such as elephants and buffaloes, have contributed to the forest's degradation. The Ministry's support, particularly in providing resources and seedlings, has been pivotal in the restoration work.
State Department for Trade Undersecretary, Clement Ochola, who participated in the tree-planting exercise on Friday, announced that the department is well on track to meet its annual goal of planting 100,000 trees in the forest. So far, 40,000 trees have been planted, with the aim to reach the target by year-end.
Ochola also revealed that the department's long-term objective is to plant one million trees by 2032, contributing to the national goal. He mentioned another ongoing rehabilitation project in Narok County, indicating positive progress there as well.