County government of West Pokot has launched a tree planting program to help control effects of landslides in the County.
Thirty six thousand tree seedlings have been offered to residents of Landsides prone areas to protect the land mass.
The trees once grown will also help to increase the forest cover and control soil erosion to conserve water towers in the region.
The county government is targeting residents through sensitizing them on the importance of trees and protect the 10 percent forest cover constitution requirement.
The West Pokot County CEC for water and Environment Mr.Wilfred Longronyang said that the initiative is to encourage locals especially in highland areas to plant trees that will avert incidents of landslides.
“We want to control landslides, increase the forest cover to help control soil erosion that has destroyed land in the area,” he said.
Longronyang said the tree seedlings has been given to farmers to plant along the river banks and in farmland schools.
He encouraged farmers to plant more trees hence urged those living next to forests to not move in the forest but to engage in farming.
The CEC urged farmers not to destroy water towers and protect planted trees and terrace their farms to help protect water catchment areas.
“We are working hard to make sure that we plant more trees in the area to avert the problems,” he said.
He called on stakeholders to join hands in conservation the environment.
Longronyang also urged people residing in dry highland areas to also plant trees as one way of conserving the environment.
Kenya forest manager Peter Kienze said the department has put stern measures on destruction of forests.
“We shall deal with those cutting trees,” he said.
He said that the most areas like Kerelwa, Tapach, Sondany and other highlands areas in Pokot South sub county have been affected by landslides because of destruction of forest cover.