By Albert Mwangeka
Taita Taveta, Kenya: In a significant stride toward environmental preservation and sustainable timber production, the county government of Taita Taveta, in partnership with the Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA), Kenya Forest Services (KFS), and the Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI), has triumphantly concluded a county-wide Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) tour.
This initiative centers around monitoring the development of 1,750 Melia volkensii tree seedlings that were allocated to local farmers at a subsidized rate.
In an effort to promote sustainable forestry practices and address challenges faced by beneficiaries, an initiative targeting farmers in the sub-counties of Voi, Mwatate, and Taveta was launched.
Grantone Mwandawiro, the County Executive Committee Member for Water, Sanitation, Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources, visited these areas and encouraged farmers to embrace the indigenous tree variety locally known as kirumbutu.
This species is known for its rapid growth and significant role in environmental conservation.
“Our focus in this collaboration is to boost tree and forest cover in the county, aligning with the larger, ambitious goal of combating climate change,” Mwandawiro stated.
The initiative is part of a 10-year tree-growing campaign aiming to cultivate 360 million trees and rehabilitate 360,000 hectares of degraded land by 2032.
The campaign aspires to increase forest cover from 3.4% to 10% and tree cover from approximately 7% to 30%.
Beneficiaries of the program have expressed optimism about the potential benefits.
Duncan Mwawughanga, a Mwatate farmer, shared his excitement, stating, “This initiative is an excellent opportunity to pursue my passion for growing trees. In less than a year, my trees are thriving, with the tallest reaching a height of approximately 3.5 meters.”
However, he noted that water scarcity remains a pressing challenge.
Josephine Mghoi, a member of the Marapu Self Help Group in Sagalla Ward, highlighted the technical support provided by the county team, which has been instrumental in ensuring the trees produce high-quality wood.
She emphasized the empowerment of women through training in pruning and debudding techniques.
Oliver Mara also from Sagalla Ward reported impressive growth, with his trees reaching 4 metres in height within a year.
He is already teaching his son about sustainable conservation practices, ensuring the next generation continues this vital work.
Nicholas Ndambuki from Taveta Sub-County plans to intercrop the kirumbutu trees with vegetables, promoting best agroforestry practices.
Agroforestry not only enhances biodiversity but also improves soil health and provides additional income streams for farmers.
Despite the positive developments, County Forester Silvester Mwang’ombe identified challenges such as pests, diseases, drought, and strong winds that can deform the trees.
Additionally, the trees are a popular feed for goats, leading to issues for farmers with inadequate fencing.
The sustainable commercial utilisation of forest resources is anchored in both in the draft Taita Taveta County Forestry Draft Policy and the county’s draft Forestry Bill.
The draft policy is at public participation level, whereas the draft bill is to be discussed by executives then County Assembly to be assented to by the Governor H.E. Dr. Andrew Mwadime.
This initiative represents a proactive approach to enhancing economic resilience and improving livelihoods for communities in Taita Taveta, while also contributing to the broader goals of environmental conservation and climate change mitigation.
