The government is looking to restore degraded forests and water catchment areas under a programme that will also seek to improve water security and create economic opportunities for communities.
The Kenya Watersheds and Ecosystem Restoration Programme (KEWASIP) is targeting damaged landscapes through the rehabilitation of catchments, restoration of forest ecosystems and promotion of sustainable land management practices.
The programme is also expected to support communities whose livelihoods depend on agriculture and other activities linked to healthy ecosystems.
Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi said protecting watersheds was important in securing the country’s water resources, supporting farming and sustaining livelihoods.
Speaking at the stakeholder engagement forum at Nkubu, Meru County, Mugambi noted that the state of health of the forest and other ecosystems was directly connected to the country’s developmental needs.
He also associated the program KEWASIP with the 15 billion trees growing strategy by the government that plans to boost Kenya’s tree cover up to 30 percent by 2032.
According to Mugambi, landscape restoration and protection of water catchments areas will play a major role in achieving the trees growing goal.
Moreover, he mentioned that this program is expected to help the government achieve its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by generating job creation chances, agricultural productivity and community enterprises related to environmental conservation.
The Permanent Secretary stated that the government was focused on sustainable forest development as well as the engagement of the local communities in the conservation activities.
He further said that the environmental restoration should be associated with improving the livelihoods of the population.
The stakeholder engagement was organized at the Deputy County Commissioner’s office at Nkubu, Meru County. Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko and National Government Administration Officers were also present.
