Bungoma County commissioner James Kianda has called upon residents to embrace tree planting exercise during this rainy season as a way of increasing forest cover in the country and help conserve the environment.
Speaking at Kaberwa in Mt Elgon after officially launching the exercise Kianda said human being are directly dependable on trees saying they need to plant more seedlings so as to enable the future generation to be well inhabited.
He said as government they are working on a program to involve the youths under the National Youth Service program that will have them partner with the forest rangers to ensure they take care of the forests.
“Mt Elgon is a water tower that is highly depended on by not only residents of Bungoma County but also other neighboring counties such as Busia and therefore we need to ensure it is well conserved through planting of more trees” he said
On his part the eco system conservator Mr. Vitalis Osodo said they are looking forward to achieve the target of planting one million tree seedlings in the County within one year and urged the residents embrace the exercise by also planting tree in their farms.
He added that they will also be partnering with other non-Governmental organizations to boost the program that include the green belt movement saying they have already set up a program that will be implemented in area of Kaboywo and Chepyuk.
Area deputy County Commissioner David Koskey called upon the residents to have a harmonies relationship with the forest officers and conserve the environment.
However residents of Mt Elgon requested for the forest service to allow them to cultivate in the forest as well as have their domestic animals graze there saying as a community they have learnt the importance of tree and will not engage in any destruction activities.
They also applauded the changes made in the Kenya forest service saying some officers who were previously working in the region were not in good working relationship with them.