Tree growing is a divine activity, Forestry PS Ephantus Kimotho says
Forestry Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho has called on Kenyans to actively participate in tree planting during the ongoing long rains season, stating that tree growing is a divine activity.
Quoting sections of the Bible, the PS emphasized that religious teachings emphasize the responsibility of humans to take care of the environment and restore degraded ecosystems through tree growing.
Speaking at the unveiling of the 10 million trees campaign by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) at Ngaini Church in Mathira West, Nyeri County on Tuesday, PS Kimotho expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead efforts in restoring Kenya’s degraded ecosystems through tree growing.
He highlighted that the government’s target of increasing Kenya’s tree cover from the current 12% to 30% in ten years is a “whole-of-Government, whole-of-society” approach and urged individuals to participate in tree growing.
Kimotho also mentioned plans to grow over 2.8 billion trees in farmlands as part of the 15 billion trees strategy, and the government’s goal of growing 150 million trees and propagating 600 million seedlings this year.
He further emphasized the importance of growing fruit trees for food security and income generation, and the ongoing review of Kenya’s climate change law to open up opportunities for tree farmers to earn income from carbon credits.
The PCEA Moderator, Rt Rev Thegu Mutahi, reiterated the church’s commitment to supporting the government’s tree planting targets and announced the church’s plan to set up a tree nursery on a two-acre land in Rumuruti.
Several organizations, including the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Kenya Forestry Service, Equity Bank, and Family Bank, donated tree seeds and seedlings to the PCEA Church at the event, which was attended by government officials, including Mathira West Deputy County Commissioner Anthony Macharia.