South Africa, Kenya: The Agriculture Chief Conservator of Forests, Alex Lemarkoko, has this morning hosted the President of the Green Blue Africa Foundation (GBFA), Mr Bedan Mbugua and its CEO Prof. Mbaabu Mathiu at the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) headquarters to discuss how to extend further the collaboration between the Service and the Foundation in tree growing and landscape restoration.
During the discussions, the Foundation’s CEO made a presentation on their marshal plan to mobilize Kenyans to plant trees and restore landscapes while benefiting from various incentives, including the value addition of some of their forest products.
While speaking during the morning meeting, Agriculture CCF Lemarkoko thanked the GBFA for their noble initiative to conserve the environment through tree growing. He noted that the Foundation already had an MOU with the Service and had already adopted over 100 ha at the Ngong’ Hills Forest Station, where they had planted indigenous trees as a way of restoring the once pristine forest.
He urged the Foundation to leverage the wide grassroots network of KFS to expand its operations across the country. Lemarkoko also welcomed the Foundation to work together with the Service in exploring opportunities for establishing industries for value addition, especially for bamboo farmers.
Mr Mbugua thanked the Service for a fruitful collaboration between the two organizations. He informed the CCF that the Foundation had plans to begin operations in the whole of Africa, noting that they already had an office in Zambia.
The President said that the Foundation was keen to expand its operations in Kenya, noting that there was great potential for tree growth in the country. The meeting resolved to form a six-member technical committee to spearhead the drawing of an expanded MOU as well as advice on areas of mutual collaboration.
One of the local users said, “Enoosupukia forest at Narok, my home area, should be considered, please. It is the famous “forest without trees.”