President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday affirmed Kenya’s commitment to achieving a minimum of 10 per cent forest cover by 2022 as part of the country’s efforts to address the challenge of climate change. The President said his Administration has identified forestry as a key sector of investment in the realization of the country’s development agenda and is implementing the national green growth strategy that has set clear restoration targets aimed at achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Today we are here to show commitment and on behalf of our government and our people, I am pledging that by 2022, we want to reach a minimum of 10 per cent forest cover in our country as a way of also ensuring that we play our part both as a government and as members of the global community,” Uhuru said. The President called for concerted efforts towards environmental conservation, saying forests like the oceans are the lungs that keep the planet alive. “Investment in sustainable management in the conservation of our forests is one of the most effective interventions to combat climate change in Kenya,” the Head of State added.

Source: The Star March 14, 2019 15:59 UTC