The Forestry sector, according to the PS for the State Department of Forestry, has a huge potential in the country and it opens up value chains for employment and wealth creation. Speaking at the tree planting exercise in Chaka Primary joined by the area MP, the CS said that the government and the Ministry has put in measures to ensure sustainable harvesting of plantation forests.

If and when properly harnessed, the forestry sector, in line with the Government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) which emphasizes the opening up of value chains for employment and wealth creation.

In a promise made by H.E President Ruto, the government seeks to plant about 15 Billion tress, in the efforts to reclaim and restore over 10 Million hectares damaged forests and rangeland. The President and the Ministry of Environment seeks to engage the public, especially the Kenyan youth in the exercise. Through partnership with organizations such as International Labor Organization, the government seeks to explore models of creating green jobs and employment opportunities through the tree growing and ecosystem restoration.

The President has also urged Kenyans to plant at least 30 trees each years, expressing concern on the frequency of drought and famine in the country due to the lack of rains. Planting trees will play a key role in mitigating drought and the losses previously experienced in the agriculture sector, which in turn discourages many Kenyans, especially the youth in pursing farming as an economic venture.

In accordance to the BETA agenda, grassroots involvement is the President’s goal in all aspects of development as there are the key beneficiaries of these projects and programs.

Tree planting as an exercise will provide numerous green jobs for many Kenyans over the next few years, while simultaneously, restoring the country’s forest cover, mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, improving agriculture and food security in the country, and protecting many young people from the risks of falling into bad habits.

Ultimately, a green country will be a beautiful country that all can be proud of.