Green Warriors Movement (Kenya) and Youth Environment Network (Zambia) plant trees in Nairobi’s Karura forest to mark Earth Day

Passion for the environment and compassion for people are the forces driving community based organizations such as Green Warriors Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations such as the Youth Environment Network to their invaluable contribution towards the conservation of our precious biodiversity.

On Earth Day, heavy downpour made it was almost impossible to reach the designated tree planting site. However, this did not stop the spirits of participants from the Green Warriors Movement and of the Youth Environment Network who were determined to achieve their objective of planting 1,000 trees and consequently contribute positively to environmental conservation which is in line with Millennium Development Goal (MDG) number 7. Community members from the neighbouring Huruma community prepared the grounds for tree planting and also participated actively during the tree planting exercise. They turned up in good numbers; women, men and children as young as seven (7) years, were all dedicated to achieve the objective of the day – to plant trees.

To start off the event, the forest officer, Mr. Lewis demonstrated to the youth and to the community members how to plant trees and the best way to remove the seedlings from the plastic bags.

The trees were planted with high spirits and enthusiasm. The tree planting speed was also remarkable as all knew that the rains would fall any time. During the tree planting exercise, children were very useful; they brought the seedlings to the holes dug by the forest officers the day before. In addition to this some children were strong enough to plant ten trees each.

The participation of young children at this event was important as it instilled a sense of environmental conservation amongst them. The tree planting team managed to plant 800 out of the 1000 trees they had targeted to plant. The trees planted included; Croton megalocarpus, Podo, Nandi flame and other indigenous trees.

Tree planting with communities, if well implemented rationally spearheads a process of wealth creation, job creation and improved conservation, all specifically in the rural areas where poverty abounds and peoples needs are so great.

Contact persons

Cyrus Gachanja
Green Warriors Movement
P.O. Box 28951-00200
Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254721955202
Email: egreenwarrior@yahoo.co.uk

Billy Mwansa Lombe
Youth Environment Network –Zambia
P.O. Box 30865
Lusaka, Zambia Tel: +260-977-607-960
Email: yenzambia@yahoo.com