Kenya Set To Earn 5 Million Carbon Credits In 5 Years
By Isabella Maua
Kenya is set to benefit from 5 million carbon credits after the government, through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, launched a 620 million Kenya Shillings tree nursery in Mt. Elgon.
In his speech during the launch of integrated landscape management for conservation and restoration of the Mt. Elgon project at Kaberua Forest on November 7, 2024, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Aden Duale divulged that the nursery project is set to have 2 million seedlings.
“We want communities around the forest through the Community Forest Associations to appreciate the benefits of the forests by taking care of these seedlings for future generations, especially in matters of carbon credit,” said Duale.
Despite acknowledging that the indigenous Sabaot community have commendably conserved the forest, Duale condemned the few culprits who had made the forest their home by putting up small huts and keeping cattle deep inside the forest.
“Today I officially order any person who has put up a hut inside the forest to put it down within the next 24 hours or stern action be taken against them in accordance with the Forest Act; further, we shall not expect any person whatsoever to carry out cultivation on indigenous land as a measure to protect our natural forests,” he added.
According to Hamisi Williams, Deputy Country Representative for Food and Agricultural Organisation in the United Nations (FAO), they are working closely with the national Treasury and Ministry of Environment to support a $ 60 million project set to benefit the Lake Region bloc in ecosystem restoration.
“With the target of 5 million in carbon credit within 5 years or less, we are determined to put 50,000 ha of land under sustainable management for ecosystem restoration,” noted Williams.
Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka called upon the CFA officials and Kenya Forest Service officers to diligently utilise the allocated funds not in trainings and workshops but in projects that will benefit the locals directly.
Godwin Ndege, the Chairperson Kaberua CFA, observed that they are targeting to restore 50,000 ha of degraded landscape in Mt. Elgon Forest.
“We are working with 7 other CFAs within Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties to grow 10 million trees in 5 years in the quest to reclaim our ecosystem and ensure 100% survival rate of the trees we plant in our forest,” reiterated Ndege.
According to reports, presently, about 250 ha of Kenyan forest have been destroyed, and to achieve the 5 million carbon credit target, both local and indigenous communities should be included justly in conserving and protecting our forests.
About The Author
