Kenya ports Authority partners with Kwale County on environmental conservation!
-Kenya has set an ambitious target to increase Kenya’s forest cover to 28 percent by 2030 from the current 8.8 percent-
KPA manager Johnson ngure Gachanga planting trees at shimoni/By Caroline kahonzi
Kenya ports Authority has partnered with the County Government of Kwale in boosting the national government’s efforts in mitigating climate change by growing trees in various places within Kwale county.
Kenya has set an ambitious target to increase Kenya’s forest cover to 28 percent by 2030 from the current 8.8 percent as part of the efforts to curb climate change.
Speaking during tree planting exercise in Shimoni, supplies chain manager at KPA Johnson Ngure Gachanga said trees play a vital role in maintaining the balance of our ecosystem.
“Under the ongoing contract for the construction of Shimoni Fish Port, today the Authority is planting 2,000 trees here at the Shimoni degraded sites and this is as per the requirement under our Environmental Management Plan (EMP) in our Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) license, as well as the KPA Policy in Corporate Social Investment,”Said Mr.Gachanga.
Mr.Gachanga reiterated that the Authority also has future plans to adopt other highly degraded sites by planting more mangrove trees at Wanga landing site in Anziwani Village, Changai and Kiwambale landing sites respectively.
“These sites have open patches caused by ecological imbalances due to human activities and require continuous tree replenishment, we have continued to protect the environment by initiatives such as what we are doing today- tree planting, environment clean ups as well as protection of natural resources,”Emphasized Mr.Gachanga.
On his side Kwale county commissioner Michael Meru has strongly warned residents who continue the illegal logging business.
The security boss ordered Chiefs and assistant chiefs to have at least three tree nurseries outside their offices.
Kwale county deputy governor Chirema Kombo has encouraged community environmental groups to embrace tree planting as a business.
1,900 trees were planted at Bahati landing site in Mwazaro Village which is highly degraded ,100 indigenous species; 50 baobab trees at Shimoni Primary School and 50 indigenous trees in Kichaka-Mkwajuni Primary School respectively.
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