Schools To Plant 200 Million Trees Annually as Govt Targets 15 billion
The State Department of Basic Education aims to plant 200 million tree seedlings annually in schools across the country. This initiative is part of a broader effort to address the impact of climate change and to reach the presidential directive of achieving a total of 15 billion trees by the year 2032.
Dr. Elias Abdi, the Director General of the State Department of Basic Education, delivered a speech on behalf of Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, highlighting that the Ministry of Education has received the responsibility of planting the highest number of trees in the country, second only to the Kenya Forest Service. This assignment is due to the widespread presence of educational institutions across the nation.
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The Cabinet Secretary noted that there are more than 24,000 public primary schools and 9,130 public secondary schools across the country, all of which possess suitable land for tree planting to combat climate change.
The Ministry of Education is fully committed to achieving this target and has tasked the 398 sub-county directors of education with planting 510,000 trees this year.
Furthermore, the emphasis is on not only planting but also nurturing these trees to maturity. The CS urged that tree planting should become an integral part of school events and that it is essential to instill a sense of environmental responsibility among the youth.
The Ministry has taken steps to incorporate environmental conservation into the school curriculum by integrating it into subjects like home science, social studies, and agriculture.
Additionally, various clubs and societies, including the 4K, Red Cross, and Wildlife, have been established in schools to promote environmental awareness among students.
Parents have also been encouraged to participate in tree planting at home, as their efforts can significantly impact the climate in Kenya.
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Rift Valley Regional Director of Education, Milton Nzioka, highlighted that all students in schools are required to plant a minimum of four seedlings, while teachers in colleges and other educational institutions are expected to plant ten seedlings.
For employees, including county directors of education and TSC personnel, the target is to plant 30 seedlings. These efforts are essential to meeting the tree planting goals, which encompass indigenous, exotic, and fruit seedlings.
In the Rift Valley region, the target is to plant 9 million trees across all 14 sub-counties, with substantial progress already made by planting 7 million trees. Environmental conservation is crucial for food security and climate change mitigation in the region.
Kajiado County Director of Education, Dr. Martin Cheruiyot, reported that Kajiado is on track to achieve its goal of planting 3.5 million trees this year.
More than 1 million trees have already been planted in Kajiado schools through partnerships with various organizations. The focus is on nurturing these trees to maturity, and schools are encouraged to provide proper fencing to protect them from livestock.
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To ensure the survival of trees in Kajiado’s semi-arid climate, they are planted in schools equipped with boreholes, allowing students to water the trees using borehole water.
These remarks were made during a tree planting event at Kitengela G.K. Prison, organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Kenya Forest Service, Africa Disaster Response, Virus Research Foundation, and other partners.
Kenyans and institutions will use the Jaza Miti application to track their tree-planting efforts in order to meet President William Ruto’s directive to plant 15 billion trees in Kenya by 2032.
According to Jane Chepkonga, the Deputy County Forest Conservator of Kajiado, the county has set an annual target of planting 62 million trees.
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Schools To Plant 200 Million Trees Annually as Govt Targets 15 billion
