Kwale County has launched a week-long environmental campaign bringing together government agencies, private sector organizations and community groups to promote tree planting and environmental conservation ahead of the National Environment Day celebrations on October 10.

The campaign, launched Monday at the Uwanja wa Manispaa ya Kwale, will involve a series of activities including town clean-ups, tree planting in schools, agroforestry, land restoration and rehabilitation of degraded areas across the county.

Kwale County Commissioner, Henry Rotich, said the activities were part of preparations for Environment Day and urged residents to take advantage of the ongoing short rains to plant trees.

Rotich said weather forecasts indicated that the county could receive above-normal rainfall due to the El Nino weather phenomenon, making the tree-planting campaign important in enhancing environmental conservation and mitigating the effects of climate change.

“We are encouraging residents across the county to plant trees, including indigenous, exotic and fruit trees, as we prepare for the rains,” said Rotich.

He said the campaign would begin with a town clean-up exercise and symbolic tree planting, before moving to other environmental activities throughout the week.

County Forest Conservator Sailas Tsuma said the activities would run from October 5 to October 10, with different stakeholders assigned specific environmental activities.

Tsuma said Tuesday would be dedicated to tree planting in schools, with the Kenya Forest Service providing seedlings to participating learning institutions.

The following day will focus on agroforestry, particularly the planting of fruit trees, while another day will be dedicated to rehabilitating areas degraded by mining activities.

He said October 9 would focus on cleaning towns, particularly areas around Kombani, in partnership with various organizations.

Tsuma added that the main Environment Day celebrations on October 10 would include large-scale tree planting at different sites, including Tsunza, Majoreni and Vanga.

“We have planned to plant 100,000 trees at Tsunza, 50,000 trees at Majoreni and another 50,000 trees at Vanga, in addition to tree-planting activities at various sites across the county,” he said.

He urged residents to participate in tree planting beyond government-led activities, saying collective efforts were necessary to achieve the national target of increasing Kenya’s forest cover.

Meanwhile, James Chapa, representing Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection (MWARP), said environmental conservation was important in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

Chapa said the organization would support tree planting initiatives, including mangrove restoration, and urged residents to take care of seedlings after planting.

“We are asking citizens and young people that after planting the trees, they should take care of them by watering and monitoring them regularly to ensure they survive,” said Chapa.

Representing Plan International, Kingstone Njeru said the campaign had adopted a whole of government, multi-agency and society approach, with participation from government departments, private organizations, students and community groups.

The participating institutions include the Ministry of Education, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Prisons Service, National Police Service, Kenya News Agency, National Drought Management Authority and various private-sector and development partners.

He noted that environmental conservation was a responsibility shared by all members of society, including children.

“The Children’s Act recognizes the responsibility of a child to protect the environment. We therefore expect children, the elderly, persons living with disabilities, political leaders and everybody to participate in tree planting and clean-up activities,” he said.

He urged children to continue planting trees in their homes and communities, noting that a healthy environment was important for rainfall, food production and clean air.

“If our environment is good, we will get rain, and when we get rain, we will get food and clean air that will support our wellbeing,” he said.

Hakim Abdalla Mwatondo, representing the Samba Sports organization, called on young people and parents to actively participate in environmental conservation.

He said tree planting was an investment in future generations and urged young people to take up the responsibility of protecting the environment.

“These trees are being planted for future generations, and young people are the parents of tomorrow. We will continue encouraging them to participate in tree-planting activities,” said Mwatondo.

The week-long activities are expected to culminate in the national Environment Day celebrations on October 10, with stakeholders calling on residents across Kwale to make environmental conservation a continuous community responsibility.

By Chari Suche and Mtumwa Makange