By Rodgers Omondi, Busia
The National biosafety authority has continued with their efforts of promoting green environment in schools through planting trees that will help to promote environment conservation
The authority’s western lead Dr. Joseph Odongo speaking during the planting of trees at Ulumbi primary and secondary school in Siaya county, said the initiative of biosafety gardens aims at ensuring schools goes green and learners get knowledge to conserve the environment.
“We have planted 3000 trees at Ulumbi Primary and secondary schools. We believe in the principal of conserving the environment that’s the reason we are promoting an initiative of biosafety gardens which aims at initiating knowledge in learners at a young age,” he said
He further called on the members of the public to embrace planting trees in the honor of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
“We are planting these trees in honor of our departed hero who championed environmental conservation. This should also be a way the public should adapt to honor our hero. Let’s plant trees and that will be a reminder to us on the effort our hero played towards environmental conservation’ he said
He stated the importance of focusing on learners in promotion of environmental conservation stating that this will assure the future with a better environment.
“We are planting various varieties including exotic, indigenous and even ornamentals that we know will be taken care of. We are going to name all the trees so that the students can understand different species of the trees and its importance to society. Through all these efforts, we will be building a sustainable environment”.
Dr. Odongo encouraged members of the public to practice reforestation, saying that, “when we cut one and plant two initiatives should be promoted even by the NGAO to the community. This will help to curb the degradation of the environment. We also need to involve all the governmental sectors in sensitizing the public to understand ways that will help in conservation of environment.
He proposed the development of resource centers for trees where the public can easily get them to plant.
“The government should embrace the emerging technology and incorporate them in the curriculum including biosafety, biotechnology, gene editing so that our learners can grow with the knowledge that they have been introduced to.”
Yala division Assistant County Commissioner Sayid Mohamed said there is a need to increase tree planting exercises calling on more partners to support the seedlings.
“We have a challenge of seedlings but when we get support, we have enough space to plant. We have been planting mostly in public utilities including schools because the places are mostly secured.I also uge the local community to plant more trees so that we have enough rain that will even help us to improve our yields.” He said
Gem Yala subcounty forester Caren Atieno said they are determined to plant many trees in the sub county as her office is offering required information to the residents on the right species of trees to plant.
“As the subcounty, we have so far planted over 600,000 seedlings this year and we are working hard to ensure we plant more trees. We are working to help in improving farm forestry and this is an effort by several stakeholders to give knowledge on the type of species to plant.” She said.
Ulumbi secondary school Principal Reuben Amala praised the initiative of Biosafety Authority that aims at making schools green stating it will boost the environment.
“This initiative is going to uplift the look of our schools by making them green and by that will be playing a bigger role in environmental conservation. Many of our schools have spaces but the challenge has been getting seedlings. The emphasis on tree planting is important to our schools and learners as it makes the environment conducive for the study of our learners.
Residents who took part in tree planting urged to be given seedlings that can do well when planted with food crops. Mary Arunga.
“There are some trees that grow together with plants which we really need in this area. This is because of our population that has resulted in people having small pieces of land. That will help us conserve the environment even as we grow our food crops. As a community we should embrace an aspect of replacing trees that we cut to ensure trees continue to exist in our environment” said Mary Arunga, a resident.
