By Ryan Kiprono
The Kenya Red Cross Society has embarked on a campaign dubbed ‘Back to the Roots’ which is aimed at bridging the gap of conservation by planting over 22,000 tree seedlings in various government forests within Uasin Gishu County.
And as part of the campaign, the humanitarian organization on Saturday in collaboration with other institutions engaged the Kapseret community in planting over 1,000 pine trees at the Kapseret forest station.
Alice Njeri Kamau, the Kenya Red Cross Society Uasin Gishu Branch coordinator said that the exercise aimed to also promote peace and cohesion after the 2022 general election, as well as improve the county’s forest cover.
“We have partnered with several institutions such as the Uasin Gishu Journalists Association, CocaCola Company, and Unga Limited among other institutions to plant trees to mitigate climate change as well as harness the carbon-absorbing potential of trees,” said Njeri.
On his part, Joseph Ondieki, the manager of Kapseret Forest Station urged the surrounding community to desist from deforestation.
Effects of deforestation
He noted that Uasin Gishu has already attained the 10 per cent forest cover as required by the Kenya Forest Act, 2015.
“Deforestation affects the rainfall patterns and this affects planting seasons. It leads to soil erosion, siltation in rivers and dams which results in endangering marine and human life,” Ondieki said.
He notes that the community benefits economically, socially and financially from the Kapseret forest and involving them in the conservation it reduces the risks of deforestation.
“Farmers cultivating around the forest station benefit economically when they harvest crops under the Shamba system. We also have farmers who after paying a fee graze their cows in the forest but the major reason for involving the community is ownership of the forest by them,” added the Kapseret Forest Station Manager.
Over 20,000 tree seedlings are expected to be planted in the 25.25 acres of Kapseret forest land before the end of 2023.
