The dependence on forest resources in the country and especially by the rural citizenry has kept on increasing over the years. With the expanding population the demand for forest commodities has gone up and the effect of this has been the reduction in the total forest cover of the country. Kenya has a total forest cover of 1.7%, which is far below the globally recommended minimum of 10%.

The management of forest resources has been faced with a diversity of challenges. The main challenge however has been conversion of forest land into agriculture and settlement. This has negatively jeopardized efforts to conserve our forests and the maintenance of our major water towers. Environmental conservation calls for collective responsibility and commitment where each and every Kenyan is a stakeholder. The fact that Kenya is a signatory to a number of Multilateral Environmental Agreements should strengthen the country’s resolve to live up to those commitments.

The forest fires that have ravaged our forests especially the Mau Forest Complex and other water towers have posed a major setback to reforestation efforts and the catchment functions of the forests. It is imperative that as Kenyans we all embrace a sense of commitment in the conservation and protection of the country’s natural resources for posterity.

As the country directs its attention to this year’s tree planting, we should have in mind the Vision 2030 medium term goal of attaining 4% forest cover by the year 2012. This can only happen if every Kenyan takes up responsibility of planting more trees.

The theme of this year’s tree planting season is ‘plant trees, get water and feed the nation’. This theme captures exactly what the country needs now, more water to feed the nation.