Kisii County residents have been challenged to plant trees to promote forest cover and curb soil erosion.
According to Kisii Central sub-county forest officer, Fredrick Mogaka, the county has a low percentage of forest cover caused by wanton felling of trees for charcoal and there was a need to sensitise the public through meetings and workshops on sustainable tree harvesting.
Mogaka who was speaking in his farm at Nyanchwa area said most parts of the county are arid and semi-arid with long dry spells and planting of trees would not only increase forest cover but also protect the environment.
He disclosed that his department had embarked on a massive tree planting exercise in Nyanchwa, Suneka and area like Nyamache, they look forward to supplying all the schools in the area with tree seedlings.
“We must change the way we do things in order to save our forests. For every tree felled one should plant two. If we are to achieve the 10 percent forest cover outlined in vision 2030, and we must embrace afforestation," he said.
The officer noted that forests are the most threatened resources in Kenya as 80 percent of the population use charcoal for cooking and other domestic uses thus depleting Kenya’s water towers.