HOW EMC IS USING FRUIT TREES TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

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By Thomas Chemelil

When you drop to the areas around Sambalat in Elgeyo Marakwet, you will be greeted by lush-green forests of carefully planted mango trees which dot the once barren terrains. It is evident that the residents of Sambalat have found a new passion that is helping in mitigating the climate change issue-the planting of thousands of mango trees.

The approach by Elgeyo Marakwet to plant economically viable fruit trees along the escarpment seems to be bearing fruit-literally. Governor Wisley Rotich has been on the forefront of advocating for economically viable trees along the escarpments. He has championed for planting of coffee shrubs and mango trees to act as buffer-zones for the fragile ecosystem along the Kerio escarpment. The Spenser cut-line has recieved a boost with mangoes and coffee shrubs being part of mitigation efforts.

EMC must be lauded for this bold initiative which is gaining support from communities as they are the direct beneficiaries of the bushes.

It is evident that this new model should be replicated around the country to replace the old baton and boot method. Such methods that have the support of the people must be replicated all over the country.

If you ask me, the forest department should even lease forests to local people for tree-planting. If the forest department leases say one acre to local farmers to plant trees which will in-turn be sold to government or private entities, I am very sure that Kenya will be green within the shortest time. Government should encourage communities to own forests as opposed to the situation where people feel that forests belong to the goverment.

The reason why forests along Chemworor in Sambirir are still intact is because of "communal ownership" of the forests. Each clan has its section of the forest to guard and a member of another clan is not allowed to harvest trees from a section that does not belong to his clan. Moreso, young men who visit the forest are reminded that it is a taboo to destroy young trees. Only dead wood is harvested.

I wish to laud the efforts of EMC people of using fruit trees to preserve ecosystems.

#ClimateChange #SmachsFoundation #Cop23


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