Kenya Pipeline Company, in partnership Kenya Forest Services (KFS), Kenya Defense Forces(KDF), has launched an initiative with the Kwa Jomvu area of Mombasa County. It involves an organized mangrove tree plant exercise.
Jennifer Situma, County Forest Conservator, stated that there were 3,771 hectares in the mangroves. This is a gazetted forest area in Mombasa County.
Situma stated that while their mandate was to work on the mangrove sites in Mombasa and the forests in Mombasa they now collaborate with stakeholders and community members in participatory forest management.
She pointed out that they have also partnered up with other stakeholders to adopt sites where KPC has adopted 100 ha.
KPC organized a mangrove plantation at the Kwa Jomvu Section to celebrate Customer Service Week.
“The planting of mangrove started last year where a total of 106,000 mangroves were planted and we are targeting another 100,000 mangroves to be planted this year,” said Situma.
She also stated that conservation and management of the forest requires KFS to preserve and conserve it. This is why they were relying KDF as well as the Ministry of Interior.
Situma pointed to the fact that the area intended for mangrove planting is not in good condition. “We are happy that since the realization that we need to restore the mangroves, there has been concerted efforts by various stakeholders where we are being assisted,” she added.
The conservator observed that mangroves can be destroyed where fuel, wood and charcoal are used.
She said that the mangrove ecosystem is vital for corals and seagrass, so it is very important. “It is very critical in revamping the blue economy as it is a breeding ground for fish. The livelihoods of the people will also be affected if the mangroves are destroyed. Mangroves are also good for stemming climate change as they hold a significant deposit of carbon,” she said.
KPC Banis Lemedeket, Foundation Manager, stated that the programme is a call to action and that all partners should step forward to restore mangrove forests.
“This is a very important activity that the whole country should rally support to this initiative. The tree is important in the world and that is why we are aligning with the presidential directive to plant at least 100,000 trees per year and we are calling everybody to take part in conserving the forest,” said Lemedeket.
Major Humphrey Sandas stated that the forces also support the environmental soldier program, which helps in the maintenance of the president’s 10 percent environmental cover directive.
“We have also planted trees inside the barracks; we are here to support this initiative,” he added.
Ali Mohammed, Chairperson of Bidii Creek Conservancy in Jomvu Kuu, stated that they have been volunteering for three years in the restoration program.
“The target today is to plant at least 20,000 seedlings of three different species. We are very grateful for the support from the partners,” said Mohammed.
Chari Suche
Source: kenyanews
