Busia Governor Paul Otuoma has urged all the local residents to be environmentally conscious and take responsibility to grow trees. Speaking during a national tree planting event at Korinda GK Prison on Monday, Otuoma said that the county is ranked among the lowest forest and tree cover, hence the need to make deliberate efforts to change the trend. ‘The forest cover in Busia stands at 1 per cent, while tree cover is only 8 per cent, which ranks us as the lowest among other counties,’ he said, adding that most of the hilltops in the county are bare. He added that his government had an ambitious programme of establishing water towers in Samia Hills, Bunyala Teso South Hills, and Teso North Hills through mass planting and growing of trees. ‘This requires community support as well as synergy with state and non-state actors,’ he said, adding that there was a need to allocate resources for the establishment of tree nurseries in every subcounty to ensure adequate seedling supply for planting. The governor said at the same time that plans are underway to come up with policies and legal institutions with a view to addressing the challenges of climate change in Busia County. ‘I therefore direct that, for environmental sustainability, all county departments accord the environment its rightful place in their plans and programmes,’ he said. Otuoma further urged the local residents to actively participate in activities such as World Environment Day and World Wetland Day to combat desertification by planting trees, becoming active agents, and observing environmental safety measures. ‘Even without El Nino rains, Busia is normally affected,’ he said, adding that some areas in Teso South and Budalangi already have some homes and crops submerged in water. He underscored the need for coordinated disaster mitigation within the county so that mobilised resources are used to address the missing gaps. ‘I am beginning to see a trend where everybody is doing his or her own thing,’ he said, adding that cases of disaster should not be handled haphazardly. The governor pointed out that the county had lost two people, one in Bunyala and another in Teso North, and it was their prayer that no more lives were lost. Busia County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto said that the county has planted 150,000 trees at Korinda GK Prison, with more trees being planted at locational level across the county. Ruto thanked all stakeholders for attending the tree planting ceremony and donating tree seedlings. He urged the governor to come up with a small committee mandated to establish tree nurseries with a view to availing seedlings when required. The CC urged farmers not to plant blue gum trees along wetland areas because they absorb a lot of water, draining rivers.
Source: Kenya News Agency