By Jean Marie Takouleu – First published by Afrik 21 on September 18, 2020
Three companies in Kenya, Skippy Adventures Tours & Events, Mishono Apparel and Aromah (the restaurant) have called on people to participate in the planting of 2 000 trees in the Nairobi National Park on 10 October 2020.
Planting trees in the Nairobi National Park to increase Kenya’s forest cover. Image credit: Skippy Adventures Tours & Events
The Biodiversity Action Day is part of an initiative to plant 10 000 trees in the Nairobi Park by the end of 2020. Interested individuals and companies have until 1 October 2020.
The aim of this tree-planting operation is the creation of a green barrier to delimit the southern contours of the Nairobi National Park. These trees should thus serve to protect the large mammals present in the reserve. The October 10th, 2020 operation is part of a larger initiative to demarcate the southern side of Nairobi National Park by planting 10 000 trees by the end of 2020.
The initiative plans to collect one million Kenyan shillings (USD9225) to plant the trees. The money will be used to buy tree seedlings, and to plant and maintain the green fence in Nairobi National Park for at least three years. The organisers of this operation are counting on families and businesses to achieve their goals.
The operation is also contributing to the increase in Kenya’s forest cover. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), between 1990 and 2010, Kenya lost an average of 12 050 hectares, or 0.32% of its forest covers per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Kenya lost 6.5% of its forest cover, or about 241 000 hectares.
