Kenya: The Chief Conservator for Forest Alex Lemarkoko participated in a meeting with officials from Sumitomo Corporation of Japan. The organization is currently conducting a feasibility study on the viability of a carbon project that they want to implement in the nation.
This project involves the practice of tree growing in schools with the involvement of students and teachers.
The officials have shared some images from the meeting on their official social media account. The officials have shared that the meeting will help in the successful collaboration between the KFS and Sumitomo Corporation.
The officials have shared that the meeting was convened following a pilot project by the SFS CORECC project. in 8 counties in the arid and semi arid regions of the country that is promoting the integration of tree growing and food production in schools as a way climate change adaptation.
The Team of Sumitomo Corporation was led by Sami Izutsu. She informed the CCF that they were doing their feasibility study in 45 schools in Kitui South.
She said that this will inform their decision to investing in a carbon project that will benefit the schools and the local community.
CCF Alex Lemarkoko appreciated  the initiative and noted that KFS was well positioned to partner organisations such as Sumitomo Corporation in implementing carbon projects courtesy of her immense technical capacity in forest conservation. The CCF noted that the government was in the process of developing guidelines for Joint Crediting Mechanisms for the forest sector to support such initiatives.
He welcomed the corporation to consider building the capacity of communities living in ASAL areas. He outlined areas of focus in terms of rangeland management.
He said that noting that they were most affected by effects of climate change. He also thanked JICA which was represented in the meeting by Dr. Yasuka Inoue for continuous collaboration in forestry development in the country.
Also present during the meeting were the DCCF for Natural Forest Conservation Beatrice Mbula, Beatrice Atemo from the State Department of Forestry and Hikaru Saika from Sumitomo Corporation among other officers.