A teacher’s trade union from Kitutu Masaba constituency will embark on a tree planting exercise in a bid to safe the deforestation of various water catchment areas in Nyamira County.
Speaking on Monday at a funeral in Omoyo village, Masaba North Knut secretary general James Oteki said the move will save at least 70 per cent of the region’s water catchment area that is said to be expeditiously fading due to illegal lumbering activities.
He said the union will provide seedlings each term to all schools from the region with a specific day set to execute the exercise.
“Our region is losing its meaning when it comes to environment. Many water catchment areas have been destroyed due to massive lumbering activities in this area and to show the commitment of the union towards safeguarding our environment, we will be providing seedlings every term,” he said.
He urged teachers to put more emphasis on need to safeguard the environment besides calling upon children to convey the message to their parents.
“As teachers, we have a mandate to ensure our pupils know the importance of keeping the environment. Children should pass the message subsequently to the parents for the purpose of combating the vice,” he added.
The exercise will target Nyamiranga forest the once largest forest area that has since been deforested due to rampant lumbering activities that the government has struggled to curb.