Kenya: Residents of Baringo County have been urged to conserve water catchment areas through tree growing to foster water security in the region and mitigate adversities of climate change.
In his keynote remarks, the Chief Conservator of Forests, Alex Lemarkoko, commended the community, singling out CFAs, for being the first social fences for forests in the county. He noted the number of rangers deployed in the area will soon be increased to address any emerging conservation and protection concerns.
Lemarkoko was speaking earlier today when he joined residents of Baringo County in Kabarnet for tree growing build-up exercises ahead of the 3rd edition of the Kirdam Half Marathon that will take place tomorrow under the patronage of Baringo Central MP Hon. Joshua Kandie.
The theme for this year’s marathon edition, ‘ Athletics against climate change; an effort to raise awareness of the climate change menace,’ aligns with the Service’s strategy of driving awareness of tree growing as a key solution to combating climate change adversities. The Service, as this year’s key sponsor of the half marathon, has supplied over 40,000 tree seedlings for the growing.
During the planting exercises held at Mosop Conservancy, Kimwochoch Community Conservancy, Kabasis Primary School, and the Kirandich Dam catchment area, Lemarkoko drew the parallels on the benefits that trees provide when catchment areas are conserved.
“Conserving catchment areas guarantees sustainable water supply, especially in the ASAL. It further safeguards the environment against pollution, minimizes soil erosion, and improves water quality”, he noted.
Lemarkoko, who was the guest of honour in today’s event, was joined by Hon. Kandie in distributing tree seedlings to residents at various planting sites.
Hon. Kandie commended the Service for its tree growing drive noting that Kirandich’s water supply depends on the Tugen Hills catchment areas. Among the invited guests present during this year’s marathon includes a German delegation led by the Mayor of Gersthofen, Michael Woerle.
The planting exercises were also graced by the County Commissioner Baringo, Stephen Sangolo Kutwa, Kirdam Half Marathon Chairman Isaiah Cherotich, while Baringo CEC Water, Irrigation, Environment, Natural Resources and Mining Richard Tamar represented the Governor, Baringo County. The KFS county team was led by the County Forest Conservator, Anne Nyaoke.