Wananchi Opinion: Spend tomorrow ‘growing trees’, not bending your elbow at the bar

The good government of Kenya has declared Monday, November 13, a public holiday for nationwide tree planting.

This means that on November 13, all Kenyans will plant trees.

Indeed, many Kenyans are already in a celebratory mood – looking to extend the weekend fun bending their elbows in those joints – and eating ‘Nyama Choma, Supu na Ugali.’

In fact, pubs should be closed – temporarily – to allow every soul to plant a tree. Those who plant a tree should have their fingers inked, as a sign that they have done their national duty.

Those Nairobians who live in apartments, can still make call their villages and make arrangements to have trees planted at their shagz.

Many probably have no idea that the surprise holiday is part of a huge plan to grow 15 billion trees by 2023 to help fight climate change.

Truth is that Kenya needs more trees especially after we endured one of the longest droughts.

It’s time to reforest the country, and the best way do that is by ‘growing’ trees – and not just planting them.

Trees once grown need to be nurtured, watered, ‘pampered’ – and loved to maturity.

It would be pointless to plant 15 billion trees – when only a small number is likely to grow beyond their ‘teenage years’.

A report by the Global Forest Watch shows that between 2001 and 2022, Kenya lost nearly 375,000 hectares of forest, equivalent to an 11 per cent decrease in forest cover since 2000. That’s quite some trees.

That between 2000 and 2010, deforestation reduced water availability by around 62 million cubic meters per year. This is huge for an economy is highly vulnerable to water supply.

That said – let every Kenyan grow at least three trees each; and nature the trees for the next three years. This is the only way we will restore our forests.

Stephen Agombi is an environmental enthusiast.