The Prime Initiative for Green Development (PIGD) has embarked on a project to plant 10,000 trees as part of efforts to increase public education on the importance of tree planting and effective forest resource management in Kenya.
Tagged: “Tree Planting as a Pathway to Green Growth and Sustainability,” the project is expected to run for three years and it will enhance the capacity of schools, as well as communities on various eco-friendly skills to promote sustainable living.
The exercise plans to mobilise over 1,500 students and 50 teachers from two selected institutions in Kenya – the Nairobi Academy and Githiga Boys High School, to drive the initiative.
The project comprises leading environmentalists and had previously engaged Migwani Secondary School in tree planting activities and demonstrates the most impact across all the measurable fields of sustainable development.
Initiating this project to attract the attention of schools and local communities on biodiversity preservation was quite thoughtful. It is also believed that working with experts in the field of forestry was one of the cardinal aims for attracting resources to implement the scheme.
“The aim of this project is to increase awareness among students on the importance of tree planting in schools and communities to enhance eco-friendly enterprise skills among young people for sustainable forest management,” says Tito Uzomah, the Executive Director of PIGD.
Uzomah explained that the trees were carefully selected from a large variety of ecologically and socially important species with fast maturation rates that maximises atmospheric intake.
He hinted further that the trees that have numerous agroforestry benefits will serve as windbreaks and play a pivotal role in soil conservation. Other valuable trees that provide schools and communities with nutritious fruits are also expected to be planted to further improve the financial capabilities of the beneficiaries.
The environmental rights advocate disclosed that the programme would also involve environmental education and capacity building for students, teachers, parents, and others in the communities.
Uzomah said the participants would learn about the importance of trees in mitigating the impacts of climate change and sustainable lifestyle.
He said classroom training would be supplemented by outdoor field trips to learn more about local forest ecosystems and the schools will arrange student art competitions around the products, services, and benefits provided by trees.
According to him, the participating schools and communities will also be trained in nursery management and long-term tree care to ensure that the newly planted trees will continue to thrive in the future.
He said the project would bring in forestry experts from the Kenya Forest Service to provide training on the more technical aspects of agro-forestry and integrated forest resource management.
The PIGD helmsman pledged that the participants would be equipped with the motivation and practical skills to protect the health and sustainability of their schools, communities, and planet for years to come at the end of the project.
Uzomah said the enhanced partnership between schools and communities woulld give a much-needed boost to collaborative efforts on sustainable forestry and green enterprises.
“The biggest benefit for all the stakeholders will be reduced amounts of carbon in the atmosphere,” he submitted.
By Etta Michael Bisong
