Leaders root for strict laws to protect trees in the city

NAIROBI leaders have resolved to work on strict laws that will protect trees and the environment from human activity.

Parklands MCA Mahendra Jalde and his counterpart Mary Arivitsa who chairs the agriculture committee have said that their is need to make sure Nairobi remains green by increasing it’s tree cover.

” We must have strict laws and l believe the executive together with the assembly and national governmemt agencies will work together on it,” Malde said.

He said that there is need to ensure that for every tree cut,it is replaced by planting another 100.

The sentiments were echoed by Arivitsa who said that the county should keep investing in tree planting.

” Nairobi still remains a key player in setting the pace on matters related to environment protection and that is why tree planting must always endevour to plant more trees,” she said

The leaders spoke on Tuesday when they joined Nairobi City County Executives led by Ms Lucia Mulwa who is the CEC Food, Agriculture and Forestry in the launch of distribution and planting of tree seedlings at Westlands Primary School.

The county is cheduled to plant 500 trees at Westlands primary.

The event saw 100 trees planted with 205 primary schools in Nairobi County set to benefit from this drive.

Ms Mulwa said that the county targets to plant 25,000 trees before the end of the year.

“Trees are very important, valuable and necessary for our existence because they provide us with oxygen and food, the two most important life essentials. Trees therefore are vital for the survival of all living beings,” she said.

The county has set aside Ksh.1,872,900 this financial year for this exercise.

This year in collaboration with stakeholders the sector has so far planted 4500 seedlings.Tree growing is mainly done on road reserves,private plots; farm lands in the peri urban Subcounties, parks,public institutions and in the riparian areas mostly through adapt a tree initiative where individuals undertake to take care of the seedlings they plant.

County Executives present committed to support the tree planting initiative by availing free spaces in their jurisdiction for tree planting especially in schools, health centers, markets and any other public spaces.

Mr. Justus Kathenge said that trees are important for the generations to come. He added that the tree planting exercise will be done in all the Subcounties

The sector plans to establish a tree nursery this financial year at City Park with a a seedling capacity of 1Million.

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