Tree growing day: Every adult encouraged to plant 50 seedlings on Friday

The Kenyan government has set an ambitious plan to plant one billion trees on Friday, as Kenya observes National Tree Growing Day.

Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya said that the government is urging every adult to plant at least 50 seedlings, with 10 for every child.

To ensure accountability and monitoring of tree planting efforts, citizens are encouraged to record all trees planted.

"To keep track of individual tree count, wananchi are encouraged to ensure that all trees grown on that day are recorded and photos uploaded on the Jaza Miti Application," she said in a statement.

According to the Kenya Forestry Research Institute, the Jazamiti App serves as a valuable tool for users by assisting them in choosing appropriate tree species for planting, tailored to their specific geographical location.

Beyond this, the application facilitates the documentation, tracking, and monitoring of the growth of trees planted over time.

Jazamiti caters to a diverse user base including individuals, organisations, and environmentally conscious enthusiasts committed to planting trees well-suited to their surroundings. Its features enable meticulous documentation and monitoring of planting activities, contributing significantly to sustainable reforestation efforts.

Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya planting a seedling at a past event. Photo: X/CS Tuya

It's important to note that the Jazamiti App is accessible to users aged 13 and above, ensuring responsible and informed participation in tree planting initiatives.

The mobile app is accessible on Google Play for Android phone users and in the Apple Tool Store for Apple users.

JazaMiti will provide an opportunity to learn how to accurately document and monitor your planting activities for effective data tracking and analysis.

By using the app, one can record the location, species, number of trees planted, and planting date.

The app also allows one to enhance documentation with photos and automated location information collection for better tracking and validation.

In addition, each Cabinet Secretary has been assigned specific sites as part of the 15 Billion National Tree Growing Programme, with instructions to coordinate their ministries, associated semi-autonomous government agencies, and host communities to ensure comprehensive restoration efforts.

"This will be a continuous exercise, with Cabinet Secretaries dedicating a day each month to engage in tree growing," Tuya emphasised.

Technical support for the initiative will be provided by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, along with its specialised agencies including the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA).

Tuya called upon governors, MPs, MCAs, the private sector, organised groups, and individual citizens to follow the government's lead and identify degraded landscapes and ecosystems for restoration.

Additionally, she urged private sector entities, development partners, and other stakeholders to contribute by providing seedlings sourced from institutional, community, and private nurseries.

Highlighting the urgency of the environmental crisis, Tuya highlighted the importance of personal responsibility and action.

"Let us be true Kenyan citizens on Friday and always by rolling our sleeves and growing trees. It is the easiest action we should take to safeguard ourselves from the worsening climate crisis and truly stand in solidarity with the Kenyans that have lost their lives, and property and at the same time mitigate against the severity of future extreme weather events," she added.