CS Duale announces Ksh.620 million project to restore Mt. Elgon Forest
Environment,
Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Thursday launched a
Ksh.620 million initiative to restore the Mt. Elgon Forest ecosystem, covering
Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia counties.
The five-year project, focusing on climate
action and enhancing local livelihoods, is financed by the Global Environment
Facility’s 7th cycle (GEF7) through the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), with support from the two county governments.
CS Duale, speaking during the launch at
Kaberua D.E.B Primary School in Kapsokwony, emphasized that the project will
not only combat deforestation but also boost local economies through job
creation and increased agricultural productivity.
"Mt. Elgon is not just a landscape; it
is a vital water tower, a biodiversity hotspot, and an essential resource for
our communities and nation," he stated.
Highlighting the significance of Mt. Elgon,
CS Duale announced that November 7th will now be celebrated annually as a
dedicated day for conserving this critical water tower.
"This day is a call to action for all
stakeholders to come together, reflect on our progress, and reaffirm our
commitment to restoring and conserving the Mt. Elgon Forest ecosystem. Let Mt.
Elgon Day be a day of unity and action, a day to honor our shared
responsibility to protect this invaluable ecosystem," he said.
In line with conservation efforts, the CS also
imposed an immediate ban on cultivation within all natural forests across
Kenya, noting that farming in these areas was undermining restoration efforts.
"I am issuing an immediate and total ban
on cultivation in Cheptais and any other legally designated natural forest
areas. These ecosystems must be safeguarded to maintain their ecological
integrity and biodiversity," he declared.
He warned communities near Mt. Elgon and
across Kenya to refrain from illegal forest activities, including encroachment,
cultivation, and logging.
The government, he stated, will take strict
measures against violators, including those in State positions.
"Anyone, including government officials,
found engaging in activities that harm this ecosystem, be it through collusion,
encroachment, or illegal cultivation, will face severe consequences, including
dismissal,” said Duale.
“Our forests are not mere resources to
exploit; they are the foundation of our national wellbeing and future. It is
imperative that we all take responsibility and work together to protect them."
CS Duale also touched on the 15-billion
tree-planting campaign, which he described as a flagship climate action and
livelihoods initiative under the Kenya Kwanza administration.
He noted that the goal to plant 15 billion
trees by 2032 would "fundamentally empower communities, restore
ecosystems, create jobs, and bolster climate resilience" as part of the government's
Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
With the onset of the short rains season, CS
Duale urged Kenyans to embrace tree planting on a large scale.
"I express my appreciation to our
partners, community members, and all those who are resolutely committed to this
transformative project," he said.
The project will also involve the Kenya
Forest Service and Community Forest Associations (CFAs) in establishing six
large tree nurseries around Mt. Elgon, each with an annual capacity of two
million seedlings.
In addition, CS Duale unveiled an expansion
at Kaberua Tree Nursery, which will increase its capacity from 500,000
seedlings to one million annually.
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