The Kenya Defence Forces in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary have planted 12,000 seedlings in Maragoli hills to mark the Mazingira Day celebration.The KDF team was led by Vice Chief of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General John Omenda while Juliana Yiapan, a Principal Administrative Secretary (PAS) was in charge of the OPCS delegation.Yiapan stated that the OPCS has committed to restore 200 acres of the 461 hectares of the forest that was destroyed in the 1990s.The PAS appealed to the local communities led by the Community Forest Associations (CFAs) to take care of the planted seedlings so that they grow to maturity.She encouraged the locals to be green champions by advocating for environmental protection and conservation of natural ecosystems.Vihiga Deputy Governor Wilberforce Kitiezo said the county government has rehabilitated about 70 acres and would continue extending the area of coverage.The County Forest Conservator Fred Otsieno cautioned the people against dest roying the seedlings that have been planted through grazing and theft, saying his officers would be vigilant round the clock.He also asked the residents to cooperate with the foresters so that the reforestation efforts bear fruit by being part and parcel of the conservation drive.The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) County Director Hesbon Monda called for collective responsibility in the conservation of the environment.Monda observed that every individual should have a social sense while disposing of wastes, in liquid, solid and gaseous forms, in order to avoid contamination and pollution.He lamented that reckless disposal of industrial effluents into water bodies has not only led to contamination but also the destruction of aquatic life.'Releasing industrial and domestic wastes into water bodies renders the water harmful to people and animals, hence it has to be avoided at all costs,' he observed.Source: Kenya News Agency