Nakuru: Nakuru residents have been encouraged to adopt agroforestry practices to enhance soil health and conservation, thereby improving food security. Nakuru County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara emphasized that integrating trees into agricultural systems will help improve soil fertility, reduce erosion, and provide diverse income sources.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kibaara stated that agroforestry practices would safeguard the health and resilience of natural ecosystems, ensuring food security and other economic benefits. He noted that the government is actively involved in environmental conservation initiatives to mitigate climate change and support community livelihoods across the country.
The Commissioner made these remarks following a tree planting exercise at Egerton University’s Njoro Main Campus. The event, which saw the planting of 2,500 trees, involved officials from National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), community members, and students and staff from Egerton University.
Agroforestry, which involves growing trees among or around food crops, is a proven method for farmers to cultivate more diverse, productive, and profitable crops while protecting the environment by reducing reliance on forests. Kibaara explained that agroforestry could help reduce farmers’ vulnerability to climate change by improving water infiltration into the soil, reducing surface runoff, and increasing water availability for crops.
Kibaara highlighted the impact of climate change worldwide, with prolonged dry spells and floods affecting various regions. He urged individuals to take responsibility for planting trees on farms, schools, and open spaces. The tree planting drive is part of a national initiative aiming to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, launched by the President in 2022.
The Commissioner stressed the urgent need for environmental conservation to secure a healthy future for future generations. He advocated for a holistic approach involving community participation, education, and practical conservation efforts such as tree planting and reducing reliance on firewood.
Kibaara also underscored the importance of instilling a tree-planting culture among the youth, as they are the future and their involvement in environmental conservation will ensure the planet’s safety in the coming years. He called on young people to actively participate in tree planting as they are more susceptible to the effects of climate change than older generations.
The Commissioner emphasized the need to plant indigenous trees to contribute positively to water and environmental conservation and the importance of nurturing trees to maturity. He noted that the process of tree planting often overlooks the crucial aspect of nurturing trees to full maturity.
Planting trees would also create job opportunities, as individuals establishing tree nursery beds could profit from selling trees to organizations and individuals. The tree planting initiative aligns with the government’s broader goals of reducing greenhouse emissions, combating deforestation, and restoring degraded landscapes.
The tree planting exercise, part of Nakuru county’s monthly environmental drive, received support from Egerton University’s climate-smart agriculture program, with tree seedlings sponsored by Equity Bank’s Green Energy Initiative.
According to FAO, tree planting and plantation forestry play a critical role in mitigating the devastating effects of climate change. The destruction and degradation of forests contribute to the problem through CO2 release. However, planting new forests can help mitigate climate change by removing CO2 from the atmosphere.