Aga Khan network leads volunteers to plant trees in Mt Kenya forest

Residents from Hombe, Iruri and Kabiruini in Nyeri County join staff of the Aga Khan Development Network and the Lions Clubs of Kenya in a tree planting exercise at Hombe area on Mt Kenya forest on December 9, 2013. 11000 seedlings provided by Serena Hotels and the Aga Khan Foundation were planted as part of a community initiative that is contributing to the government's goal of achieving a 10 per cent forest cover by 2030. PHOTO/JOSEPH KANYI.

What you need to know:

  • This is part of an initiative that is contributing to the government of Kenya’s goal of achieving a 10 per cent forest cover by 2030.
  • Senior Director of the Aga Khan Foundation Mr David Boyer said that they have been involved in similar initiatives but their main goal is to provide economic livelihood benefits for the community.
  • AKDN and the Lions Club of Kenya plan to plant more 10 million trees by 2014.
  • The institutions under AKDN include the Aga khan Trust for Culture, the Aga Khan Foundation, Nation Media Group, Serena Hotels, Industrial Promotion Services and the Coastal Rural Support Programme.

Volunteers from the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), Lions Club of Kenya and locals Monday planted 11,000 trees in the Mount Kenya forest.

This is part of an initiative that is contributing to the government of Kenya’s goal of achieving a 10 per cent forest cover by 2030.

The trees were planted in portions of land in the forest where the Kenya Wildlife Service and the local community have an initiative in which residents living next to the forest are given of land to cultivate while taking care of the trees until they mature.

This normally takes a period of three years.

Speaking at the event, Senior Director of the Aga Khan Foundation Mr David Boyer said that they have been involved in similar initiatives but their main goal is to provide economic livelihood benefits for the community.

“We know that through such initiatives, water is conserved and hydroelectricity connection will progress since environmental conservation is key to economic development,” he said.

7 MILLION TREES

Mr Boyer said that Serena hotels (an affiliate of AKDN) and the Aga Khan foundation provided the seedlings in an arrangement that has resulted in the planting of seven million trees over the last two years in Mount Kenya forest and the coastal region.

“At the coast, we have initiated tree planting in Kwale and Kilifi where we plant trees in yards and schools.

It is a way of improving the economic livelihoods of the people because later they will get firewood and fruits from these trees,” he said.

He said that in total, AKDN and the Lions Club of Kenya plan to plant more 10 million trees by 2014.

According to the Serena Hotels Environment Officer Mr Bob Oguya, tree planting is an essential activity that helps to prevent deforestation.

Mr Oguya said that deforestation is threatening Kenya’s key water towers which include the Mau complex, the Aberdares and Mount Kenya.

LAKES FLOODING

He added that when people cut down frees, soil erosion takes place and this results to flooding.

“Recently, it was reported that Lake Nakuru was flooded.

It has become shallow as a result of the deforestation in the Mau complex.

Water flows freely from the Mau due to lack of trees which would have helped absorb it,” he said.

He said that trees absorb water and instead of flooding, the water goes underground thus restoring water levels.

Mr Oguya said that Lake Elementaita is also currently being affected by deforestation in the Aberdares, its water tower, and is also becoming shallow.

TOURIST ATTRACTION

He said that these lakes are major tourist attraction sites and if not taken care of by embracing reforestation, Kenya might lose much revenue due to reduced numbers of tourists.

The head of Lions Clubs International Dr Manilal Dodhia said that on December 12, 2013, the Kenyan government is expected to officially commit to the planting of 50 million trees as part of a national reforestation campaign, in collaboration with Lions Clubs of Kenya and AKDN.

The institutions under AKDN include the Aga khan Trust for Culture, the Aga Khan Foundation, Nation Media Group, Serena Hotels, Industrial Promotion Services and the Coastal Rural Support Programme.