A tree plantation. Gatundu North residents are being encouraged to grow trees in their homesteads. [treeplantation.com]
Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in Gatundu North Sub County has given out tree seedlings to the residents for planting in their homesteads.
Forest Area Officer Janet Wambui has said since the beginning of the year, they have distributed the commercial South African eucalyptus species as a way of promoting conservation as well as economically empowering the beneficiaries.
“The seedlings take four years to mature and the locals can sell them to Kenya Power as posts at Sh. 5,000 each hence earning them income,” Wambui said in Gakoe market on Saturday where they were issuing the seedlings.
Wambui said that they have partnered with the County Government to bring on board as many households as possible in order to increase the forest cover.
A representative from Kiambu Department of Water, Environment and Natura natural resources, John Kinyua said that they are encouraging the residents to preserve and protect the water towers in the region.
He stated that they have intensified the campaign for the adoption of reforestation and agro-forestry.