A conservationist has urged flower farmers in Naivasha to help in saving Lake Naivasha’s catchment area from destruction. Sam Weru yesterday said that only a few farmers around the lake were involved in the conservation efforts of the Aberdares, lake’s source. He praised small-scale farmers involved in the Payment for Environmental Services (PES), saying their efforts have improved water quality and quantity flowing into the lake. “Small-scale farmers upstream are committed to conserving the catchment area. It is therefore prudent for beneficiaries downstream, who include flower firms, to reward them,” he said. Mr Weru added that the farmers plant fodder crops and trees, leaving the riparian areas –mainly along rivers – uncultivated, which reduces soil erosion. The conservationist spoke in Gathara, Kinangop, during the handing over of one million shillings raised by flower farmers to 784 farmers in the area under the PES programme. He said land in Kenya’s water towers should not be allocated to anyone as it is hard reversing negative effects occasioned by invasion of forests. During the event, PES chairman Enock Kiminda said that flower farmers were committed to 'awarding' those conserving the catchment areas. "We have more small scale farmers joining PES and a number of flower farms have joined the initiative to award their colleagues for conservation," he said.

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