Siaya: Health Principal Secretary (PS) Dr Ouma Oluga has decried the low forest cover in Siaya County, saying stakeholders in the region must embrace concerted efforts to improve the situation. Dr Oluga disclosed that Siaya forest cover is ranked 4th lowest in the country, despite the region having regular rainfall.
According to Kenya News Agency, the 2024 Alliance in Biodiversity Report ranks Siaya County's forest cover at 44th, with only 5.23 percent among the 47 counties, despite a favourable climate. Speaking at the Mazingira Day tree planting event at Okela School in North Uyoma Rarieda Sub-county, Dr Oluga disclosed that he is working closely with Forestry PS, Mr Gitonga Mugambi, to launch an agroforestry programme in Siaya to boost forest cover within the next ten years.
'We are looking at launching an agroforestry programme that will be overseen by our MCAs and the Kenya Forest personnel in the County, so that we can plant fruit trees and other trees to improve our forest cover,' Oluga remarked. The Health PS, who presided over the event where 500 fruit tree seedlings were distributed for planting and an additional 4,500 tree seedlings were given to schools within Rarieda Sub-county, further disclosed that in the spirit of embracing combined effort, a private organisation has committed to donate Sh3 million towards addressing low forest cover in the County.
The Mazingira Day occasion was also attended by area Member of the County Assembly (MCA), Washington Booker Bonyo, who urged the residents to refrain from deforestation through charcoal burning and wanton wood harvesting that contributes to depletion of forest cover. Bonyo told the residents to plant trees on their land, saying the lack of trees has contributed to effects of climate change witnessed through flooding in the region.