Laikipia County Conservancies Association in partnership with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Services, County Government and other stakeholders have planted over 10,000 seedlings at Mukogodo Forest in Laikipia North Constituency
In an exercise that was preceded by 10KM walking distance dubbed, “Walk Wild’’ from Sarara to Lokusero Mixed Secondary School, brought together over one thousand domestic and foreign tourists to create awareness for the need of keeping the nature green as well protecting the big five
Speaking in the midst of the event that was sponsored by twenty eight associations from Laikipia County hosted by ILMAMUSI Mukogodo Forest Association, the host Chair Wilfre Mejooli said the walk brings together stakeholders to communicate the importance of a fragile dry land forest and what it means to the lives of the communities around the forest
“We are mobilizing more stakeholders on board to participate in the protection and conservation of the forest, in order to create a functioning ecosystem that supports biodiversity,” said Mejooli.
The Laikipia Conservancies Association lead Chairman Kip Ole Polos said that Mukogodo Forest is a very important water tower for both Laikipia County as well as the country as a whole, and there is need for partneres as well as Kenyans to pull together in preserving the forest
“Mukogodo Forest embodies the near perfect co-existence between wildlife, livestock and the communities surrounding the forest, it is therefore important to protect and preserve this important water tower which is a source of livelihoods for the communities and wildlife species,’’ Mr Polos noted.
The association lauded Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, FAO, which is one of the partners for taking restorative interventions in the forest through its project tagged ‘‘ Restoration of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands through bio-enterprise development and other incentives’’ funded by the Global Environment Facility
FAO, representatives emphasized on planting more trees and protecting the eco-system to have more rains and friendly environment
According to the ILMAMUSI Mukogodo Forest Association representative Peter Matungu is that Laikipia, Isiolo and Samburu Counties are some of the areas affected by climate change and they want to conserve them for the benefit of humans and wildlife classes
Mukogodo East Member of County Assembly Paul Shweli said that the programme is for future generations and encouraged residents to keep it clean and restore the environment that has been deforested
“Some of the challenges we have in this forest are insecurity issues but thanked the participants for the program.
The Governor is aware and has promised to support the program that we shall donate more seedlings whichever the number you need to make sure that there’s rainfall attractions in these areas,” Paul Shweli noted
He further said that as Maasai community, they don’t denude trees for it’s a taboo and urged other citizens to follow the suit
In her part, Nominated Member of County Assembly Eunice Latena Nominated MCA thanked the stakeholders for the exercise and promised to continue supporting the initiative that will aforestore decarbonize the forest
Adrew Soi who is the Regional Forest Conservator representing Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Nyadarua and Laikipia Counties also recommended the initiative calling the local administration to support it to the fullest
Other speakers from Kenya Forest Service who spoke said they have been very much encouraged and offered to walk the journey in keeping the central region greener and greener
“The management structure for the KFS and freedom and democracy that has been prevailed in the organization should remain for we have made it
We have one million seedlings in our nurseries and over ten thousands seedlings in individuals farms that are available and can be planted during this pouring season,” Said DCC
“In central province we have seven million seedlings and others in Naromoru
The forest was gazetted in 1964 which sits in 30,189 hectares of natural forest has been protected by the community just like Kaya Forest in Kwale County,” Soi said
The Deputy County Commissioner for Laikipia North Albert Mwaringa called upon of annual publicity of mukogodo forest through such a noble programme so as to conserve the forests and it’s edges safe
“There are so many bandits having illegal firearms in this forest, as of yesterday we managed to neutralize one bandit and recovered one gun and 1o rounds of ammunition, this was just to keep the forest safe and the wildlife
The level of destruction posed by these criminals is very high and we don’t want to lose our nature on poaching, we are putting aerial surveillance to drive out trespassers so as to keep the forest green and safe from criminal activities,” DCC noted
The programme is one of the, President William Ruto’s recent presedential directives on planting fifteen billion seedlings in the next ten years in his anticipated leadership