PS Omollo urges Homa Bay residents to boost tree cover as county records 10.4pc
PS Omollo said Homa Bay had planted 25 million seedlings since 2022 but needed to strengthen conservation efforts to improve its tree and forest cover.
Homa Bay's Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has urged residents to expand tree cover and safeguard existing forests as the government pursues its aim of planting 15 billion trees by 2032. At Lambwe Forest during Masingira Day events, Omollo highlighted that the county had planted 25 million seedlings since 2022 but needed to boost conservation efforts to raise its tree and forest cover.
Currently, Homa Bay's tree cover is at 10.4%, while forest cover is estimated at 3.18%, underscoring the urgency for continued environmental restoration. The county has set a goal of planting 14.9 million trees annually to achieve a 100,000-hectare tree-growing target. Omollo emphasized that while tree planting is crucial, communities must also nurture and protect existing forests to ensure trees mature.
The government's nationwide environmental push aims to engage communities and public institutions in tree planting and conservation. Homa Bay, a member of the Nyanza Forest Conservancy, is coordinating with government bodies and local leaders to accelerate environmental restoration. During the celebrations, participants planted around 6,000 trees, slightly short of the day's target of 10,000.
Omollo encouraged residents to plant indigenous and fruit trees in various locations and prepare for potential heavy rains during the October-to-December rainy season, warning of possible floods. He cautioned against exposing students to hazardous crossing conditions during exams and advised teachers and parents to ensure students' safety.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
