Nairobi: The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has intensified its efforts to promote a green environment in schools by planting trees to aid in environmental conservation. During a recent tree planting event at Ulumbi Primary and Secondary Schools, Dr. Joseph Odongo, the authority’s western lead, highlighted the initiative’s goal to create biosafety gardens that ensure schools go green and equip learners with environmental conservation knowledge.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Odongo emphasized the importance of this initiative by stating, “We have planted 3,000 trees at Ulumbi Primary and Secondary Schools. We believe in the principle of conserving the environment, which is why we are promoting an initiative of biosafety gardens aimed at imparting knowledge to learners from a young age.”
Dr. Odongo called on the public to honor the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga by embracing tree planting as a tribute to his environmental conservation efforts. He remarked, “We are planting these trees in honor of our departed hero who championed environmental conservation. This should also be a way for the public to honor our hero. Let’s plant trees as a reminder of his efforts towards environmental conservation.”
Highlighting the significance of educating learners on environmental conservation, Dr. Odongo stated, “We are planting various varieties, including exotic, indigenous, and ornamental trees, that we know will be cared for. We will name all the trees so that students can understand different species and their importance to society. Through these efforts, we will be building a sustainable environment.”
He further encouraged the public to practice reforestation by planting two trees for every one cut down, stressing the need for government involvement in public sensitization on conservation methods. He suggested the development of resource centers for trees to facilitate public access to seedlings.
Yala Division Assistant County Commissioner Sayid Mohamed underscored the need to increase tree planting activities and called for more partners to support seedling provision. “We have a challenge of seedlings, but with support, we have enough space to plant. We’ve been planting mostly in public utilities, including schools, as they are secure. I urge the local community to plant more trees to ensure sufficient rainfall to improve our yields,” he said.
Gem Yala Sub County Forester Caren Atieno expressed determination to plant numerous trees in the sub-county, highlighting efforts to enhance farm forestry and provide residents with information on suitable tree species. “As a Sub County, we have planted over 600,000 seedlings this year and are working hard to plant more. We aim to improve farm forestry with the help of several stakeholders,” she stated.
Ulumbi Secondary School Principal Reuben Amala commended the Biosafety Authority’s initiative to green schools, noting its positive impact on the environment. “This initiative will uplift the look of our schools by making them green and contribute significantly to environmental conservation. The emphasis on tree planting is crucial for our schools and learners, making the environment conducive for learning,” he explained.
Residents participating in the tree planting requested seedlings compatible with food crops, as many face land constraints due to population pressure. Mary Arunga, a local resident, noted, “There are trees that grow well with plants, which are needed here because of our small land parcels. This will help us conserve the environment while growing food crops. As a community, we should embrace replacing trees we cut to ensure their continued existence in our environment.”