The Nyanza regional Deputy Conservancy Director Mwai Muraguri alongside the Kenya Forest Service Inspector Evans Ontiri on Friday met Salmon Orimba, CEC, Environment Kisumu County ahead of the International Day of Forests 2018.
The international day of forests is an important day in the UN calendar which is commemorated on March 21, across the world.
This year's theme is: "Forests and sustainable cities" while the slogan is "Let's make our Cities Cleaner, Greener, Healthier places to live."
The day is particularly relevant in Kisumu County as it provides a platform to address the forest situation in Kisumu County, which is estimated at 0.44% of its total landmass; one of the lowest in Kenya.
The occasion will also act as the launch for April-June rainfall regimes tree planting season. The county government of Kisumu will launch Kisumu County Greening Programme during the celebrations.
Orimba said focus would be on intense afforestation, reforestation programme, establishment of tree nursery in village, ward and sub county levels.
"The County Government of Kisumu targets to plant atleast 2000 trees in each ward and 10,000 trees on each of the two gazetted forests in Karateng' in Kisumu West sub county and Koguta forest in Nyakach sub county," he disclosed.
The County Government of Kisumu through the ministry of environment is also planning to establish environment clubs in schools and strength the existing ones by aligning them towards tree planting and conservation activities.
Strategic partners include Kenya Forest Service (KFS), KEFRI, KIWASH and NYS.