Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai today led celebrations to commemorate the International Day of Forests 2024 at Lodwar Girls High School in Turkana Central Sub-County.
The International Day of Forests (IDF) is an annual event with the objective of celebrating and raising awareness of the importance of forest conservation.
The theme for this year’s IDF is “Forests and Innovation,” and the slogan is “New Solutions for a Better World.”
In his remarks, the Governor outlined the efforts initiated by the County Government to increase forest cover that includes the allocation of Ksh. 28 million in the establishment and development of tree nurseries and tree seedlings production.
“My government has set a target of producing and transplanting 2 million tree seedlings every year in Turkana County. This is in keeping in line with the national campaign to attain 30% tree cover by the year 2032,” he remarked.
The Governor rallied residents to plant more trees as part of an effort to combat global warming. He stated that his administration will scale up conservation efforts in Turkana County in collaboration with the National Government and development partners.
In that regard, he said, “These interventions will facilitate the improvement of the Turkana County tree and forest cover, thus enriching the ecosystem for the betterment of livelihoods.”
He observed that the invasive Prosopis juliflora, which was intended to reduce the effects of desertification, had affected plant biodiversity in the ASALS by changing the ecology of the rangelands, eventually affecting pastoralism.
He offered that, “The County government allocated Ksh. 20 million towards control and management of prosopis juliflora “Etirae” and combating the effects of climate change. An extra Ksh. 120 million was allocated towards Financing Locally Led Climate Actions (FLLOCA).”
Governor Lomorukai raised an alarm of illegal destruction of indigenous trees and directed that any person who intends to engage in commercial charcoal business must get a no-objection consent from the County Executive Committee Member responsible for forestry.
Members of the County Assembly led by Leader of Minority who is also Lokichar MCA Samuel Lomodo, echoed the Governor’s call for increased trees cover in the County.
Senior County Government officials present included Deputy County secretary Joseph Nyang’a, County Executives Elizabeth Loote (Tourism), Patrick Losike (Roads) and Peter Akono (Lands).
Also present were County Chief Officers Paul Lodunga (Office of the Governor), Joseph Ekalale (Climate Change) and Cecilia Majuma (Public Service) as well as a team from the Office of the Governor led by Chief of Staff Peter Loyapan.
The Sub-County Administrator for Turkana Central Ms. Esther and the school principal were also present.
