NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 28 – Isuzu East Africa Managing Director and staff, in partnership with the Machakos County Governor Dr Alfred Mutua, Kenya Forest Service Conservator of Forests Julius Kamau and Isaac Kalua of the Green Africa foundation today joined the Muumandu Community Forest Association in planting tree seedlings worth Sh1 Million on 2 Hectares of the Muumandu Hill forest in Machakos County.
This is an ongoing initiative by Isuzu East Africa that started in 2014 when the motor vehicle assembler adopted 70 of the 110 Hectares of Muumandu Hill Forest.
The 70 Hectares were bare. It is a key forest ecosystem located in the semi-arid lands of Machakos County.
The company has so far planted over 1,000 trees and restored over 1 Hectare of the formerly bare hill. Today the team planted 2,200 trees covering 2 hectares on the Muumandu hill.
This is part of Isuzu East Africa’s social responsibility initiatives in support of the government’s effort to have 10% forest cover in Kenya by the year 2030. This will also help the country to attain the Millennium Development Goals to manage our natural resources in a sustainable manner that helps in wealth creation and poverty reduction.
The tree planting drive will be instrumental in assisting the Ministry of Environment & Forestry achieve the target of planting 2 billion trees by 2022.
The environment and natural resources have in the recent years been under threat due to increased dependence on natural resources to meet basic needs. The situation is aggravated by the rising poverty levels.
Speaking during the tree planting event, Managing Director Isuzu East Africa Rita Kavashe said “Isuzu EA is willing to bring its financial and business resources to support the tree planting and related activities, therefore we request the Kenya Forest Services (KFS) to protect and maintain the trees to ensure sustainability of the project and the Community Forest Association to protect the forest and report destruction and misuse of forest resources, because they are the first-hand beneficiaries of an improved environment.”
Rita emphasized that the role of Isuzu East Africa was not only a leader in transportation by making and selling the best vehicles, but we are also passionate about positively impacting and changing communities around us.
“Green Africa Foundation should urgently lend their technical expertise by developing a Forest Management Plan for Muumandu for its long-term sustainability. The plan should include running tracks and picnic sites like the Karura forest in Nairobi” Rita said.