In line with the national landscapes and ecosystem restoration strategy, the State Department for Forestry has partnered with various academic institutions to support 15bn tree growing program.

Skilled youth are particularly needed to drive forward the broad landscapes and ecosystem restoration agenda that covers the accelerated 15bn national tree growing program that seeks to raise the country’s tree cover to 30% by 2032.

Secretary for Administration Mr. Evans Mutari, in the past weekend, joined Daystar University fraternity, led by Mr. Pius Muia in a tree growing exercise at the University’s farm in Machakos County.

Mr. Mutari, who represented Forestry PS. Gitonga Mugambi, commended the tree growing undertaken by the students and advised them to document the trees on the Jaza Miti App so as to enable the Ministry to keep track of the 15bn tree growing initiative.

The Jaza Miti App will also provide guidance to the users on the right trees to plant in their respective regions.

On his part, Mr. Muia appreciated the Ministry’s support of donating 10,000 seedlings to the University.

Machakos County which has a forest cover of 2.59% has a target of 9.4 million seedlings for the short rains season.

Daystar University aims to grow 100,000 trees during the ongoing short rains season out of which the institution has so far planted 37,000 seedlings including the 2,000 seedlings planted at the tree planting exercise.

The Ministry of Environment has set a target of 500,000 Million trees to be planted during this ongoing rains.

Mr. Mutari was accompanied to the tree growing exercise by members of the 15bn Secretariat led by their coordinator Dr. Vincent Oeba.