The government has encouraged communities living around the Mau Forest to make good use of a new programme that is helping restore the forest while also putting money in people’s pockets.
Environment Principal Secretary Felix Ng’eno spoke during a visit to Marindas, where the Tree Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (TELIS) is being rolled out.
He told residents who have been given land under the programme to take the chance seriously and improve their lives as they help grow trees.
“As the trees grow, you should also grow,” he told the beneficiaries, urging them to plant approved crops like potatoes and green peas to earn a living.
The programme is part of efforts to restore the Mau Forest Complex, which has faced destruction over the years. At the same time, it aims to support local families by allowing them to farm as they take care of tree seedlings.
Moreover, it relates to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which the government is pursuing through the Presidency of William Ruto. The transformation agenda seeks to empower grassroots level people.
While in the region, the PS led the distribution of land plots to the beneficiaries. He lauded the local community forest association for conducting the exercise in a transparent manner.
However, he warned the residents that their first aim is to revitalize the forest ecosystem, urging them to abide by the stipulated regulations for environmental conservation.
It should be noted that this program has already started bearing fruits as far as the recovery of the forest is concerned as well as provision of an alternative livelihood to locals.
This larger-scale project will span a number of years in various regions of the Mau forest.
