Charcoal burners in Nyamira south sub County of Nyamira County have been urged to continue planting trees to curb desertification in the area.
This comes following a directive by the national government which requires charcoal producers to replace the trees they cut to curb desertification.
Addressing a group of youth groups in Makairo early Wednesday, area Forest Officer Richard Mayaka said that the charcoal banners should ensure that they plant more trees than the ones they use to burn charcoal in order to ensure that the county is always green.
He said they should indulge in tree planting initiatives to surpass the ten percent forest cover that has in the recent past been threatened by tree cutting in the area.
The officer noted that through the county’s forest department plans were underway to ensure the registered charcoal producers benefit from the initiative through income generating projects.
“We want to know those in business and ensure that they plant more trees than those they cut so that we can maintain our forests,” he added.
He urged the locals to be vigilant over people who were posing as charcoal producers and engaging in illegal charcoal business, adding that it was important for all the charcoal producers to get registered with the association.
Photo: Some of the trees planted by an organisation in Nyamira. Charcoal burners in Nyamira south sub County of Nyamira County have been urged to continue planting trees to curb desertification in the area.