Tree planting project starts to counteract climate change adversity

Homa Bay Woman Rep Joyce Osogo planting tree seedlings at Kasimba Primary School in Kasipul Constituency. [James Omoro, Standard].

Homa Bay Woman Representative Joyce Osogo has started an ambitious initiative to plant trees in secondary and primary schools in her county to help boost forest cover and mitigate the effects of climate change.

In the project, Dr Osogo is distributing between 100 to 1000 seedlings in schools, depending on the availability of space for planting them.

In a tree planting ceremony convened at Kasimba Primary School in Kasipul Constituency, Dr Osogo distributed more than 50,000 tree seedlings to various schools in the constituency. The seedlings also included fruit tree seedlings meant for boosting learners' nutrition when they mature.

The legislator is partnering with the Kenya Forest Service and other government agencies in planting the trees.

Dr Osogo said her objective is to conserve the environment and improve learners' diet in schools.

"Environmental conservation is my key agenda. We are also planting fruit trees to improve learners' nutrition in the future," said Dr Osogo.

She expressed her commitment to emulate the late environmental laureate Prof Wangari Maathai by ensuring Homa Bay County has the required forest cover. Homa Bay has a forest cover of 3.1 per cent.

The MP said the programme also targets chief camps, health facilities, and churches.

"Apart from schools, the other public institutions with spaces for planting trees are also benefiting," Osogo added.

She said the programme also aims at empowering youths who establish tree nurseries which they sell to earn a living.

Homa Bay County Ecosystem Conservator Sharon Cheluget told residents to make tree planting a routine in their daily lives.

"Every activity undertaken in this county should be accompanied by tree planting to help in remembering them in the future," said Cheluget.