GBM Blog

GBMs tree planting partnership with Postal Corporation Kenya

April 16, 2013 - 11:20AM
Published by David Kamau

Not even the chilly Nairobi weather could deter the staff of Postal Corporation Kenya and The Green Belt Movement (GBM) during a tree planting partnership at Ngong road forest on Friday 12th April, 2013. The event was led by GBM Executive Director Ms Pauline Kamau, Postmaster General Dr Enock Kinara, Postal Corporation Chairman Cyrus Maina, officials from Kenya Forest Service and staff members from the different organizations. The tree planting exercise aimed to plant over 1,000 trees in a designated area of the forest set aside by Kenya Forest Service. The tree planting was part of a bid to increase Kenya’s forest cover as part of the country’s effort to develop and sustainably manage forest resources for Kenya's social-economic development.

In her keynote address, Pauline Kamau affirmed GBM’s commitment to monitor the newly planted trees for a period of three years before handing over the role to the Kenya Forest Service who manage the forest. True to Professor Wangari Maathai’s words “anybody can dig a hole and plant a tree, but to make sure it survives, you have to nurture it, you have to water it and you have to keep at it until it becomes rooted so it can take care of itself.” She applauded the Postal Corporation of Kenya for this new initiative stating that tree planting ought to be a necessity for everyone.

Photo: GBM Executive Director Pauline Kamau planting one of the 1,200 trees planted at Ngong road forest.

Postal Corporation Chairman, Cyrus Maina, acknowledged GBM for taking environmental conservation to a higher level. He said that his organization was there to affirm and continue with Professor Wangari Maathai’s work towards improving the environment through tree planting. He also urged the government to come up with laws that ensure development in Kenya goes hand in hand with re-forestation as well as to provide training to rural tree growers.

Speaking at the event on behalf of the Kenya Forest Service Director, Zonal Forest Manager Mr Stephen Kahunyo thanked GBM for the continued collaboration in securing Ngong road forest. He urged all those present to plant trees so as to ensure humankind’s survival.

With the help of local community members, the teams present successfully planted 1,200 trees!